I painted 32 portraits in 2023. Even I was surprised when I did the the math last week. Earlier in the year I had told an artist friend that the 17 paintings she had completed seemed like so many, and I would never finish that many in a year. Oh, the things we say.
I loved painting all those faces. Each person a valuable, beautiful human being. It’s such an honor to capture someone’s essence on canvas.
Then, I painted a bouquet of flowers. I am a creature of habit. If I say I’m a portrait artist. I paint portraits. The end.
But my sister had sent me a photo of a fall bouquet she had picked from her garden. I loved it, I painted it, I loved painting it.
I think I will paint more flowers. Why? Because I can. Because I need to remind myself from time to time that most of the laws I live by are self-induced. Some are great. Some are prisons.
A portrait artist can also paint flowers. Or food. Or landscapes.
We are free!
Happy New Year. I hope you walk in freedom this 2023.
