Blush

Original Sold

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This vase of peonies is sitting on the sill of a window in the stairwell of my parents’ house in Woodacre. Through the window is a bank of flowering plants just above where my brother and his wife were married and 8 years later where my husband and I were also married. My family had this house built when I was in junior high – I remember the day I came after school and I could sit in my own room (before that I’d shared with my older brother). There were no walls anywhere yet, just plywood sub-floor. There is such history in this place.

Painting it came in three distinct phases. I spent quite a while on the garden-background – sculpting the paint into the soft shapes outside the window. Then came the faceted glass and the stems inside, which I thought would be a fright to do, but instead was quite fun and surprisingly easy. I stalled out painting the right big blossom. The photo image was murky and my drawing was unclear. But once I found my way through it, the big flower on the left I painted almost all in one Saturday. It’s a large painting – the same size and dimension as “Touched by the Sun” and has a similar standing in the light quality.

Our friend Sara from across the street (who is also the minister who married my husband and me) was visiting and I asked her what I should call it. When “Blush” came out of her mouth I was amazed! I had been thinking the very same word! It’s in honor of the shy part of me that was so easily embarrassed. I had terrible stage fright and my face turned red when I was in the spotlight. Though I don’t suffer in the way I used to – I’m so grateful to be mostly healed – that sensitive part of me is still here. Instead of wishing it away, I’ve learned to honor this part of myself. It’s now safe to be really seen.

March 2013 – 41″x29″ – Watercolor on paper