What shall i paint?

For me there´s a difference between deciding what I want to paint and what my busy mind tells me people would like to see. I´m aware of that voice that tries to interrupt the inspiration that springs and flows from emotions I often can´t define, stirred by colours and light, a striking image against a moonlit sky, an autumn tree, or a summer meadow.

I love Dorset, and when I´m out and about, I take lots of photos of the sky, the sea, landscapes that move me to joy or peace, or perhaps evoke a deeper connection with the land, because that´s what I want to express and share in my paintings. The first time I felt such inspiration was on a boat coming back from a happy holiday in the Scilly Isles. I wanted to paint the sea - always and never the same, impossible to capture on camera anything but a moment in time, but I wanted to remember the feelings stirred by the sunlight dancing on the water, the blue, green, grey rise and fall of the waves.

The New Year has blessed me with a poignant commission to paint the stunning view of the Needles from the beach at Barton-on- Sea, from a lady whose mum used to sit on the bench there and spent many happy hours enjoying the beautiful, peaceful view. I treasure the special, heart to heart connection which comes from this commission.

A seascape from Art2Art´s online gallery was chosen in memory of her beloved mother. The new painting is unfolding under softer skies, and neutral light which evokes a sense of serenity and timelessness. It´s such a joy to work in this way.

But inspiration and ideas can come from anywhere. I was moved to paint this purple tree, depicting love which transcends time and space in a scene from a Robin Williams film, What Dreams May Come. It evoked a memory of a plaque I used to have on my bedroom wall when I was a child which said:

“Let the little children come to Me¨

The purple tree symbolises for me a spiritual home-coming, letting go of the stresses and demands of the material, adult world and becoming a child again, full of happy energy, wide-eyed curiosity, returning to the source of Love and creativity. What does it say to you?

Wishing you a gentle, peaceful, be very kind to yourself weekend.

Marja Brown

PS My painting "Let the Children Come to Me" is on sale on my website.