I recently finished this oil painting of the hilltop that I had a previously painted in small gouache study . They both have such different qualities even though they are of the same spot. But with both, I feel I brought my soul’s eye to meet with the earth and they broke bread together. Isn’t that what it’s about? Witness, commune, create. Or is it: witness, create, commune. Or: witness, commune/create. Hmmm.
Feeling quiet this week. Recent news events of this week I find myself wondering how people cease seeing the humanity in others who are different than them either from the shape of their eyes or the color of their skin or the gender they are born to. I found these words that somehow comforted me by Annie Dillard.
“We are here to witness the creation and to abet it. We are here to notice each thing so each thing gets noticed. Together we notice not only each mountain shadow and each stone on the beach but, especially, we notice the beautiful faces and complex natures of each other. We are here to bring to consciousness the beauty and power that are around us and to praise the people who are here with us. We witness our generation and our times. We watch the weather. Otherwise, creation would be playing to an empty house.” – Annie Dillard
I always find comfort in creation. Creation is much more powerful than destruction.