Art and writing

My husband bought me a paint by number for Christmas that I had added at the last minute to my want list. I'd found a company that sells paint by number sets based on famous pieces of art.  I picked a Van Gogh favorite - Starry Night.  

Hubby was a little dubious about whether or not I would even complete the kit, but I was excited and dove right in.  I wanted to get my painting mojo back.  For the last several years, I've had a kind of art block, something akin to a writer's block.  Whenever I have thought about picking up a drawing pencil or paint brush, anxiety held me back.

Completing this simple painting with the helpful guide of numbers and detailed directions seemed like a low stress way to get me to pick up the paint brush again.
And it worked!  The process of applying paint to a brush and then a canvas was so much fun, so calming and yet energizing.  It was the same sense of utter satisfaction I feel when I'm writing and the words flow effortlessly.

This experience made me realize that the act of creating art and the act of writing are similar in that it's hard to know when you're done.  I found myself wanting to improve the painting, continuing to add layers and depth, hoping to perfect what I had created.  That's just how I feel about my stories. I know it's important to finish, but I truly enjoy the process of perfecting, of adding layers to make a story better.

I loved the fact that completing this simple little painting project made me think about my writing and that I could find parallels between creating art and creating stories.  It's not such a huge revelation, but it was a kind of epiphany for me and it revived my love for drawing and art.  I felt so good as I worked on this little canvas that I rashly declared to my husband, "I think I've found my calling!" Without missing a beat, he retorted, "What? Paint by number?" At least I can always rely on him to keep me humble.