Finding Clarity

A plastic peony, painted plein air

The air was so fragrant I was almost dizzy. The humble peony bush that bloomed at my previous house was nothing, nothing compared to this field filled with them at Peony Hill Farm. I was already giddy at the prospect of my first plein air painting session in months; the perfect weather, the opportunity serendipitously presenting itself in the morning, and the prearranged childcare felt like the stars were all aligned.

Then I sat down and tried to focus.

I felt rusty and unsure of which view to study with so much beauty literally all around me. I had brought a handful of plastic “canvases” (from polystyrene cups and lids) precut into peony shapes, but barely a “concept of a plan” of how it could all come together.

I ended up documenting different directions from my sitting spot. The “bloom” ended up being the main focal point when I found my favorite flower shining at just the right angle from the sun. I used a second layer to make it pop even more from the background.

I chatted with other friendly creatives as we headed out for the evening, but I was hesitant to share the results of my little plastic paintings. Even sharing the pieces with my newsletter subscribers - who have witnessed my progression working with increasingly weirder materials - left me feeling vulnerable and uncertain. “Trust me,” I told them (and myself), “it will all come together in the end!”

And eventually, it did.

Now it lives on as a reminder for the times when we feel overwhelmed by our surroundings, unsure of the next right step to take. Consider the different options available to you. There are multiple angles to approach any of the many problems facing our world today, but there will be one that calls to you a little bit louder than the rest, and will be a good fit for your personal strengths and life situation. Claim it and lean into your unique opportunities, even if it feels uncomfortable or insignificant at first. Someday, it will all come together beautifully.