Do you see the woman in light purple? She had been painted on a large 39 x 39 canvas for weeks. And for weeks she remained in my studio. She was a start. I’ve been working on a series of paintings relating to women of an uncertain age and the way that we see ourselves. So day after day I would go in and stare at her. I could not figure out how to proceed. It became a frustration. After several days of this I went into my studio determined that I was either going to paint over her and began again or I was going do something with her. Still nothing ….

 

Then this happened.

 

I wanted her to be in a night sky and I had some sparkly blue paper. I picked the paper up and ripped it, smashed it into the glue and stuck it onto the top and I did again. Then I left. Always in these stymied moments, doubts about my abilities as an artist begin to creep in. It may come as a surprise to you but it happens to most artists. The writer that is blocked, the musician that can’t pull the tune together, and the painter that has no idea of how to proceed. And yes even the very famous have the same doubts.

 

It’s the magic that keeps us going…...

 

In a bit, I walked back into my studio and I see that the blue sparkle paper that I had so slap-shot-I-give-up-applied was an exact representation of the woman in the light purple dress. Immediately I thought, “That’s her alter ego”. And then I knew what to do. I also knew that God’s Spirit or someone that Spirit had sent was now in the game with me. I could have torn that blue paper every which way but Sunday and I would have never, ever , on my own, formed that face that looked almost exactly like the one I had painted. No, not ever. But nevertheless, she is there. And things like this happen all of time.

 

I put her up for sale before she was done because I was pretty excited about the whole thing. I just wanted to get it out there. I even gave it a  pseudonym. I’ve just now taken time write the about it. And really I’m glad it didn’t sell. I always say that no painting of mine is safe with me until I sell it. So I’ve tweaked it unmercifully and put the correct name on it. Now it’s done. So the gist of the painting is that skinny red-headed girl in the purple dress is really something much bigger than what we may see. She is much stronger and brighter than even she knows. She has an Alter Ego. She has just got to step into who she knows that she is meant to be. She may get pushed by circumstances or she may just make the decision. Either way, she will get there. Just like all of us….

 

Thanks for your time,

Pam