The tentative first lines developing into a steadier stroke,
then bold color and daring sweeps.
Until an unfortunate spill or the sudden slamming on of brakes,
as the canvas goes flying and the frame is broken.
Jagged splinters jutting through the canvas.

Ohmygoshisitruined???

Wounds.
Tears in the fabric of life.
Is it even worth attempting to repair it?
Or should it just sit in the corner?
A mess up.
Labeled: Damaged.
The potential was there, but…

Seriously???
Do we just give up? Abandon it?
What about reimagining and reinvention?
Isn’t that where creativity thrives and an neverbeforeseen artistry emerges?

Triumphant overcomer.
A survivor.
The victor.
Over uncontrollable circumstances and accidents
and mess-ups, and the carelessness of others.
Of our own self-doubt, editing and erasing the things we want to hide in a corner,
rather than display as evidence of our humanity.
Our flaws and imperfections, the total screw-ups and the stupid stupid stupid things
we shouldn’t have chosen …but we did.

So here is the other side of that story.
We don’t hide.
We don’t give up.
We show up anyway,
Take the tattered pieces and start again.

The cloth has some stains, the edges are frayed, the canvas is ripped, the foundation shaken.
Ever heard of duct tape, baby?
There’s glue, elmer’s if you’re rudimentary,
or the super stuff that holds the promise of magical properties.
I prefer clear tape that still allows the smudges and jagged parts to show through,
or washi tape that adds another layer of patterns and colors.

The art of our lives was never supposed to look exactly like someone else’s –
that’s cheap imitation and not the original
That you are, that I am.
Irreplaceable wonder and beauty
The adventure of discovering and creating, rediscovery and recreating.
Reimagining.
A life well lived.

A Masterpiece.

Biography:

I signed up for a drawing class in the Fall of 2024 to get back to the basics and hone my skills as an artist. It enabled me to take a step back from what I’ve been doing (painting, photography and poetry) and gave me fresh inspiration.

Growing up in a multicultural home gave me a kaleidoscope lens to see and appreciate the world. I have a passion to express many voices and perspectives through my work, emphasizing that we all are art.