little wabi sabi bird
leaning into the wind,
tipping, but never falling,
trusting her heart
to show her the way
~ Angela Recada
Artistic expression isn't always "pretty." Neither is life. Both can be messy, and you'll make mistakes. But if you grow from the experience, it's worth making a few mistakes. So, I am no longer avoiding looking my mistakes straight in the eyes to find the good, the "pretty," that's hidden beneath.
This little birdie started with some leftover paint I didn't want to waste, a stray piece of paper, some corrugated cardboard, early-autumn leaves and some paint-stained fabric I had used to clean my brushes. I worked it, glued it, overworked it, tried some new things, and created my own little piece of wabi sabi.
This little birdie started with some leftover paint I didn't want to waste, a stray piece of paper, some corrugated cardboard, early-autumn leaves and some paint-stained fabric I had used to clean my brushes. I worked it, glued it, overworked it, tried some new things, and created my own little piece of wabi sabi.
Wabi-sabi is the Japanese art of finding beauty in imperfection. If you'd like a fuller explanation and examples of wabi sabi, you can click here. I love the idea of finding beauty in imperfection, don't you? What a load of pressure it would take off of us if we stopped trying to achieve something which is essentially unachievable. (Who decides what is perfect, anyway? And while I'm asking questions, who decides what is art, and what isn't?)
To keep the little birdie company, I added a quote which had been floating around my art supplies for a few days:
This little birdie helped me get a lot out of my system. Simply painting a silly bird, giving her a crown, and stitching the paper to represent the seeds she needs to grow - it all felt good. I can move on and grow some more, myself, now that I'm totally comfortable in my mellow, fruit-bearing autumn years.
To keep the little birdie company, I added a quote which had been floating around my art supplies for a few days:
Autumn is the mellower season,
and what we lose in flowers
we more than gain in fruit.
~ Samuel Butler
and what we lose in flowers
we more than gain in fruit.
~ Samuel Butler
This little birdie helped me get a lot out of my system. Simply painting a silly bird, giving her a crown, and stitching the paper to represent the seeds she needs to grow - it all felt good. I can move on and grow some more, myself, now that I'm totally comfortable in my mellow, fruit-bearing autumn years.
May all your fruit be sweet and juicy!
