The Lessons Series

Listen. Allow. Play.

While making these works, I recognized a correlation with a list of lessons I’d been keeping in my journal throughout the summer.

The teachings arrived as whispers and shouts, repetitive themes, “coincidences” that - of course - really weren’t.

“Lessons / Listen”. Acrylic on canvas, 60 x 36 inches

Lessons / Listen began with a desire to feel a deep burgundy color that showed itself to me repeatedly. It seemed I was being told, without words, to explore the richness of the color. I came to understand it mirrors the warmth of connection: how I feel content when I encounter it, and how I anticipate more.

Lessons / Allow. Acrylic and pencil on canvas. 48 x 36 inches.

Lessons / Allow is about restraint. I’ve been practicing Mel Robbins’ Let Them Theory when my control instinct kicks in. Let the driver cut me off. Let the school flood my inbox. Let the person I care about make a decision I don’t agree with. (Unless the behavior is dangerous, domineering, or discriminatory - then step in and advocate.) Otherwise, let the thing happen, and stop trying to swim upstream against it.

This painting wanted to stop. I wanted to push it further, but I waited.

I let it. I stopped. It shone.

“Lessons / Play”. Acrylic, pencil, and charcoal on canvas.

60 x 36 inches.

Lessons / Play tempted me to think quite a bit, but (like most truthful creative acts) seemed to come together when I instead chose to observe and loosen my grip.

It showed me its wild, its humor. Its bounciness, its softness.

It reminds me of how an elated child returns, after adventuring, to a parent’s lap - eager to download discoveries while being held in steady, loving arms.

The Lessons Series is available through the studio.

Please email to inquire.