Still Living/Breathing and Painting

What a totally strange half a year the world has had. I have been stressed out, stressed down, isolated, un-isolated, creative/lethargic, using darks to dig a hole, and lights to climb out of the hole. The virus had to be slowed/stopped by a heightened awareness all around ourselves of actions we took for granted. For the first few weeks I (we) kept to ourselves, in the house except for a daily walk and the very occasional trip to the food store. Slowly I decided that going to my studio, only 200 yds. away, would not be putting myself or anyone else at risk, so I started up again-and it totally saved me. Being able to sling paint around and forget the outside world for a few hours every day was total bliss.  

Some painters have addressed the pandemic in their painting. Some have addressed the politics surrounding implementation of restrictions. I haven't done either. Just kind of picked up where I left off, with a renewed need to brighten up my palette, but often finding my canvases very dark and depressing. I am so glad that I live in a country that has managed this pandemic sensibly, so that we can, for the most part, get on with our lives. Galleries and museums are open, many pillars of everyday life are back to normal. We still are using masks and keeping our distance on public transportation and in public spaces. We care about each other. Maybe that is what I am painting these days.....(exception being day after a certain TV debate, where so much aggression had to come out....). I highly recommend a creative outlet for that energy surging around inside of us these days, be it writing, dansing, cooking, quilting, painting-combined with physical activity and fresh air. 

This virus will not go away without a fight, so do all the recommended actions and get yourself your flu shot and pneumonia vaccine while waiting for the Covid vaccine to be available, and then try to live your life as much as you can.