My Wooden Box

September 3, 2008

My Wooden Paint Box

It all started when I rediscovered a lost friend from my childhood... my wooden paint box. Sometime back in the early 1990's my mother brought my old wooden paint box to my apartment, which was full of simple watercolors and brushes.  Opening the box flooded my memories of very happy times between us two. Images of me doing my butterfly press paintings and lining them us for art shows for my family flooded my memories. Those were happy free times.  

Oh, to have only been told back then it would be OK to be an artist when you grow up!  I keep that box for a while and one evening after a beautiful drive up the Northern Coast of California with images in my head and from photos I sat down one late evening and began my journey.  I did not know that the my mind and soul were ripe and full with images that I had been collecting in my head for years, and I could not have known were it would take me then, but I did know that I felt high as a kite and all time was lost in the process.  It was as if I left my body and went for a fantastic far reaching Journey.  The feeling and experience has never left me.  

My heart was awakened with Pure Bliss and Joy and that is why I create now.  I create because I must.  My art is meditation.  I often create without looking, letting the brush and paint take its own journey, and it is a combination of feelings needing to be poured onto the paper or lately linen canvas.  

I think everyone should go out and get a wooden paint box; there is something so real and tangible about a real wooden paint box.  My own box, my own paint and art supplies.  

I have to confess that, I rarely use my paint box these days and have gave way to the plastic variety when doing water, but I still adore my simple wooden paint box and think everyone should own one.  

I give you permission to go out and buy a box and I hope you begin your painting journey.  Hopefully you will discover a long forgotten part of yourself that you were not able to full express or a part of you that simply gave way to more so called "Important" things in life.  

We all have something to say that can be displayed in a full array of color, and or other artistic means so go out and find it soon.  I would love to hear about your play.

Have a great day!