paint YOurself positively
I was invited to one of those Painting with a Twist events and my level of anxiety was so high I could hear my heart beating in my ears. I had always laughed about how I could “draw a mean stick figure”, but when it came to creating works of art I avoided it at all costs and did not think I had an artistic bone in my body. I mean the most I’d ever done was paint by numbers and even with that I didn’t do too well and in High School instead of taking art, I took shop and cooking classes. Art was my nemesis, so to think of painting anything gave me a headache.
I went to the event and when I saw what was selected for us to paint I was filled with instant dread. Coloring in between the lines made me happy and gave me a fulfilled feeling of accomplishment, but this tasks I was faced with creating gave me anxiety. Our instructor talked us through each detail of our picture and explained the brushes and colors we were using. I didn’t see and couldn’t vision how MY painting was going to turn out like hers but I was determined to ensure it would not look a hot mess.
We took a break half way through and as our instructor walked around to view what he had completed so far, I cringed when she got to my station. “I see someone used her imagination for this assignment and it looks very nice. I like how you blended our colors and added some special touches of your own”. I scoffed at her comment and thought, of course she is going to say something nice because she gets paid to do so. And as we started back up to our second session to complete these creations I heard someone say, “wow Beth that is nice, how long have you been painting”? With a puzzled look I turn and look towards the direction of the comment and wonder, “has this person been sipping something LOL”? I mumble a unenthusiastic thank you and return to my painting.
We add the finishing touches to our paintings and I start to clean up my station as it dries. When I return I see what I have created and I am excited that it actually looks good. I guess I didn’t do so bad after all I think as I chuckle. We were asked what the titles of our paintings were, and before I could answer my friend shouts out, “New Beginnings"! I sit and smile to myself while thinking, it is a new beginning. A new beginning for me to push myself past my comfort zones and test the waters of life and to enjoy it. I liked that thought and continued to look at my painting with pride.
Our instructor encouraged us to sign and date our paintings to have something positive to reflect on from this experience with her. And, as I signed my painting and smiled I leaned over to my friend and said, “this new beginning helped me to paint myself with positivity”.
So, my question to you is this - if you had a paint brush (imagery) - how would you paint yourself with positivity?
(My painting is below) Special Thank You to Jenkintown Painting with a twist instructor Genevieve
