Bursts and Breaks (the art of creating and letting go)
Friday was here. It was a glorious hot and sunny spring morning, the wind was low, the sky was clear and I had just sat down at my desk with a cup of coffee ready to check off my short to do list. I wanted everything done so that I could paint and get ready for the “Naturally” art exhibit at the Creative Arts Center that evening. I knew this show was gonna be a good one. I had all new pieces going up, one in particular, I had a good feeling about.
I logged onto my laptop, and had barely begun when my phone rang. I looked at the name that popped up…Joyce. JOYCE? What in the world?….
Joyce is a long-time painter bird of mine. She began painting with me not long after I first started teaching paint parties, and she’s hung around ever since. Over the past 5 years or so of her coming to my classes we became great friends. Her best friend Pam, became one of good friends also. They came to almost every party I had if they could possibly make it. They advocated for me in numerous ways! Not only by doing the obvious, like sharing my posts, inviting friends, and regularly attending, but also by making other painters feel welcome. In the beginning, I would get extremely anxious when I had a large group of people to instruct. Over the years, it was a relief to see their paint party payments come through, because I KNEW I would have some back up. I watched them grow confident in their process as artists, and go from copying my designs exactly, to branching out and making creative choices on their own. They would take new painter birds under their wings, and be the first ones to say, “HEY! You can sit with us! Welcome!!!” At the same time, they NEVER stepped on my toes as a teacher. While at any moment, either of them could have gotten up and taught a class on their own, they always listened intently when I gave my introduction speech, never interrupted, and communicated through looks and nods to see if I needed any help or assistance. They would arrive early to help set up and stay after to help clean and decompress after a party. Pretty much everything you want a support system to be when you’re starting out and growing as an entrepreneur. Since then, I’ve moved from that area, and I don’t’ get to see Joyce and Pam. 😢
Back to present day…moment of truth here, I would normally silence a call this early in the morning and return it later so I can get some work done, but this was unusual for her to actually give a ring and not a text. Something must be wrong, so I answer. “Well, good morning!” I say cheerfully, hoping it’s not bad news. I hear Joyce’s chipper voice on the other end of line saying that her and Pam are driving down highway 82 and see a sign that says Bonham. Could they stop by for a quick hug of the neck?! WHAT?! UH, OF COURSE YOU CAN!!!! They were making flying road trip to visit with her son in Colorado and thought of me and my new town when they saw the sign! They couldn’t drive through without stopping to say hello! I mean, WHAT?!? I was so excited I about peed myself! They swung in for about a 20-minute visit, and they went on their merry way.
Talk about good mojo! I could feel it in the air as soon as they pulled in my driveway. Today was already turning out to be fabulous, and it wasn’t even noon! The day rocked on and I got my to-do list complete then piddled on my final painting in a collection called HERE COMES THE SON. I was feeling energetic from the sunshine and early morning visit and decided to go for a run to get my wiggles out before getting ready for the art show that evening.
Along my run I came across three different peace signs Yahweh showed me in creation. One was in the middle of a leaf that had fallen from a tree right in my path. The other two were made among the shadows on the road from tree branches overlapping one another. I stopped at each one (which I don’t normally like to do on runs) and took a photo, acknowledging the tranquil feeling God had given me that day. Thank you, Lord. I got a good sweat in, and some nervous energy out, then proceeded to snatch up the kiddos from school, head back home and get ready for the exhibit. The day was peaceful and easy.
My family and local crew were all to be in attendance, and there was a buzz in the air. As I parked the car and walked towards the door with my family, I noticed that one of my entries, along with one other artist, Sarah Cannon, had been blown up into a poster and hung on the outside of the building for display to promote the March show! WOW!!!! I wasn’t even in the door yet, and there was my art and my name for all the passerby’s to see! 🤯
We enter the Creative Arts Center, and my oh my, at the burst of color from every direction! Local artists had come out of the woodwork to show up and show out for this show! And there was my heart, right in the center, hanging big and bold and bright. Marmalade Skies, in all her metallic wonder, and ORANGE back drop! Oh my, at the orange I hold so dear! A piece of my soul for everyone to see, dead center of the front gallery.
A pit grew in my stomach, and here came the thoughts….Would anyone like it? It looks like an 8 year old painted it. Look at all these amazing talented pieces around me! I look like an amateur. I really love it. I don’t care if anyone else doesn’t. In fact, I hope they don’t because I wanna hang it in my living room. Wait. What am I saying? I could really use the money right now. But it’s not about the money, it’s about sharing my art with the world! If someone buys this, then they “get me.” They really do. And I’m not alone in this world, and I’m not just over here painting silly whimsical pictures for no reason. UGGHHHHH, just have fun, Jessie, good grief!
With each friend who showed up, I felt a little more at ease. We ate, we drank, we laughed, we talked about art, and to the artists, and I felt the knot in my stomach release. Then, my friend and fellow artist Jaye Bella, yells for me to come in the front gallery. There’s my art director and friend, Sandy, pointing at Marmalade Skies, with big red print on the sign that says SOLD!!!!!! I gasp! NO FRIKIN’ WAY!!!! Who in world…???!!! I look around, and nobody is giving up the buyer. No one. It’s to be a secret. A SECRET?!?!? How can I NOT thank this person for validating all my insecurities with a single purchase? A large purchase, none the less.
From the beginning of my day, I could feel this synchronicity of events. The seemingly coincidental occurrence of psychic things happening that seemed to relate to each other, but I couldn’t quite explain. A perfect sunny day. My old friends and painter birds, Joyce and Pam unexpectedly dropping by. A peace laden run. Each family member and friend actually able to show up to the show, with not one bail out or prior engagement. Each one there to support me and be there for a sale. An unlikely piece of mine being chosen for the front of the building display. And to culminate the day, a piece of my heart bursts and breaks in a giant moment of creating and then letting go! God whispered all throughout the day, but it wasn’t until the end, that I saw them all link together.
Have you ever had something like this happen to you? Maybe it took longer than a day for the whispers to link up? Maybe a week...or a year...or a decade? Tell me about it! I’d love to hear your story.
And in the meantime, in between time. Trust the process. We are all becoming. ✌🏻🩷🎨🕊️🕊️🕊️
P.S. Thank you, Laura, for buying a piece of my heart. I hope it brings you joy each time you see it. 🌞
“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21
