The Release was a painting that was in no hurry to come through.
Some paintings demand to be painted, asking that I drop everything I am doing and work on them.
Yet others have a slow, meandering pace, knowing that they will be finished at exactly the right time in the right way.
The Release was that painting.
And after sitting on my easel for nearly two months now, she has finally been released into the world.
The process behind her painting wasn’t an intentional one. Yes, I knew from the start what her name was. I knew what the final painting was kind of going to look like, but I didn’t really know what her final form would be.
Painting her wasn’t on a strict timeline. I knew she would come in her own time.
Sometimes I painted all day. Other times, I focused on one flower, one section of her dress, a wisp of hair.
It wasn’t until the last stroke of paint was drying that I realised that the way she emerged on the canvas, and the way I worked on her, had also become part of her story.
There was no fighting (I’m looking at you, Brave). No forcing something to work when it didn’t. And I didn’t have to give her 100% until she was complete.
That was release.
There was no fighting (I’m looking at you, Brave). No forcing something to work when it didn’t. And I didn’t have to give her 100% until she was complete.
That was release.
A YEAR OF LETTING GO
I have been in a state of release this entire year. In ordinary, unglamorous ways.
By decluttering my house and my business. By letting go of what couldn’t be ready for markets because there simply wasn’t enough time. By making peace with being sick and unable to work the way I wanted. By releasing ideas that don’t need to happen right now and making space for new opportunities.
I used to think releasing had to be dramatic. That it was based in trauma, required a breakdown, a grand goodbye or burning everything to the ground.
But the Release showed me that it could be gentle.
Sometimes it looked like: “I’ll paint two flowers today, and that’s enough.”
THE PAINTING HAD TO COME FIRST.
Talking with customers at Handmade on the weekend led me to an interesting revelation.
‘She Remembered She Was Brave’ and ‘The Release’ were hanging near each other. And while I was talking about the process with one customer, I realised that I had to paint Brave so I could paint Release.
Brave taught me to be exactly that – be brave.
To take creative risks, to be ok not painting and taking time when something isn’t working. To embrace my whimsical nature and to not strive for realism.
The Release represented what came after those lessons.
I’d already embraced my bravery; now I could stop gripping everything quite so tightly and allow space for whatever was coming next.
And it was only looking back that I saw the connection.
Sometimes even the artist doesn’t realise what her art has been teaching her until the painting is finished 😉
FINDING HER PERSON.
I’ve always said that my paintings find their people, and The Release found hers on the weekend.
While there is always a little pang when they leave home, I know she will be treasured and loved in her new one.
And there is something particularly synchronistic about my painting called The Release, leaving the studio so quickly!
So many of you connected with her over the weekend. And while I wasn’t able to bring prints to the market – mostly because the paint was still drying as I drove over- I’m very happy to let you know that prints are now available online.
They are available in my usual three sizes, A5, A4 and A3, ready to slip into standard frames.
In the coming weeks, I’m also compiling a full time-lapse video for my YouTube channel showing every stage of The Release coming to life.
Pop over and subscribe to my channel if you’d like to be notified when it’s uploaded. (I am still firmly in Handmade Recovery mode over here!)
MAKING ROOM FOR WHAT’S NEXT
If this painting has really taught me anything, it’s that The Release – both the actual painting of it and the literal meaning behind it- can be an act of self-love.
Sometimes it’s about the quiet courage of letting go. Sometimes it’s about making peace with what cannot be carried forward. And sometimes it’s making room, and becoming a little lighter.
And it makes me wonder: what am I ready to release next?
And I wonder what it is you are ready to release? Not because it was bad. Not because you failed.
But because maybe you’re ready to make space for whatever comes next?
From my whimsy world to yours.
Let’s stay connected
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