Gracious Roots & Grateful Wings ♥ a new Daylight Dream

Gracious Roots & Grateful Wings - the one with the PINK underpainting from last week! - has been completed, and here is her story:

 

As parents we incubate our young children, eventually assisting with the early steps into independence. The young ones benefit from our steadfast and deep roots, and we are honored to offer a leg up as they grow. Sooner than we can imagine, they step past our helpful rungs and begin making their own paths, step by step, pulling toward themselves the footholds that make the most sense. Sometimes the path crumbles, loses itself, but becomes steady and manageable again. At times there is a need to stop, to fold into a place of comfort and familiarity, before beginning again, and that is okay.

 

Family, mentors, ancestors… they hold us and establish us, and as we journey on we set our own route, proceed with our own techniques. Soon the lushness of growth, experience and life surround us and welcome us. Unique challenges, fresh opportunities and a clear sky rise to meet the voyager.

 

 

Last week I promised to tell you about about the new journey that I have been on. With my children in their early 20's now - I find that I have more to give: more nurturing, more love and attention and more compassion.

 

I have spent some time in elementary schools this year and I see how different the students are, compared to when I was in my sons' classrooms teaching art.

 

Teachers are overwhelmed with students who won't and can't pay attention. Constantly asking, reminding, advising and instructing these kids on how to do better. I want to be an extra helper for these struggling children. At the same time, I see children who do not get this negative attention, and seem to want nothing more than to be SEEN, noticed, listened to. Especially by an adult. 

 

I have put myself into a position to look into their eyes, listen to their stories, appreciate their drawings, and give them my time. And boy does it feel good.

 

Thus, I've been spending more time doing it :)

 

 

The result is a fervor for painting when I'm in the studio, a bubbling inspiration and urge to create what calls to me, what feeds my soul and reaches the hearts of the women who collect my paintings.

 

I spend many joyous hours a day in front of the easel with such gratitude for the craft, but also an appreciation for the "other part" of my life that gives me a front row seat to humanity. Oh the gift of perspective...

 

I've long been a student of the adult/child relationship; witnessing (more recently) the tendency for the bigger set of eyes to be on a phone, or distracted, while the little one waits, eager to be seen and played with. 

 

My heart has been broken by witnessing this scene in hospitals, grocery stores, schools and the park: one child playing alone on the playground structure while their guardian sits 30 feet away engrossed in a phone.

 

Our actions send messages. 

Our time given touches hearts. 

Our attention matters.

 

So, I'm giving some of my time to children; I'm seeing them smile and feeling my heart blossom.

 

And when I'm not doing that I'm feeding my whole self with these paintings - I would not have guessed that paintings of paths and stones, trees and women, would be lighting up my soul so much. This journey has been long and interesting...

 

Here is the newest piece that I quickly scratched out today ~ I have a vision of her in my mind and CAN'T WAIT! I'll be sharing progress in my Instagram and Facebook Stories over the next week.

 

 

See The Daylight Dreams Collection

 

Thank you for reading!

Love & Sincerely,

Katie