COLOR

 

©CherieElainePhotography2025

The day I sat down and painted this, I was in a profoundly aggravated mood. I painted like I was a frustrated and overwhelmed kindergartner with crayons that just scribbled all over the paper to get the emotions out of her head. 

It kind of worked. I don't like the painting. But I do like what it represents. I even framed it and hung it on the wall for a month. Sometimes you just have to get the anger out somewhere. And as long as I have paint and coffee, no one loses any fingers, toes, or facial hair. 😉 

What I like about it:  I love the colors all melting together, and the impressions left from plant pieces I had collected and had annihilated while trying to press them into the paint. Not my expectation. But the colors are pretty. I like bold and bright color. It's happy. Even when it appears mad. You cannot dispute the brightness of color. 

What I learned from it:  Color doesn't leave you lacking, you do. Usually I can create art and suddenly feel transformed into someone regenerated and refreshed. Music, photography, dance, painting. NOT THIS DAY. I expected the painting and the colors to "fix" my mood. I didn't take my mood to table and leave it there. But.....

I can almost hear the Spirit whispering, "Oh sweet, angry child of mine. Paint and paper cannot do it. But good try. I'm still here. Just waiting." 

It took a few weeks for me to be willing to paint again. I'm just learning. And I like it to be pretty. Not messy. But isn't that kind of how we are? 

We come to the table. We are messy and mad. We want outlets to take the pain away. We throw fits. Colorful fits. Have you ever wondered why the things that fall out of our mouths are called colorful language? Yeah, we are trying to brighten things up a bit. 

As I sit here writing, in a better sort of space, I look at my newest painting. This one I did for the pure enjoyment of it. I did it for something to do. I am not a professional painter in any stretch of the imagination. But what it does for me it therapy. I took out aggression. And then I painted and left a little piece of color. I brightened. 

©CherieElainePhotography2025

I like this one. God created all of these beautiful colors and sometimes we overlook them because we see the world in black and white. We see it as we think it should be. And it just ISN'T. And it won't be. 

As a fan and specialist of black and white photography, sometimes seeing color gives me a bit of anxiety. No, no, go back to your place. But what I love to SEE in that color is what a vast and incredible creation we are living in! And it is so much bigger than me. 

This is getting long. Sorry about that. Are you sticking with me? I want to share one more thing. 

We are living in a garden. Different plants live in different places, different cultures dress in different colors and fabrics, and different species are recognized by their brilliance and ability to blend in. We don't always blend well. 

If we can't appreciate our Creator's illuminance of color, then maybe we need to retreat to our secret garden (also called a prayer closet) and pray in secret and see our world the way He does. 

Love you.