As Artists, We Simply Must

As Artists, We Simply Must
My daily commute, back and forth to Cheap Joe’s, sometimes affords me the opportunity to photograph some very inspiring views along the way. I thought I would share them with you, along with a poem that they inspired. Enjoy!

With the world awakening across the countryside, the colors and textures, and the views inspire. Inspire new paintings, renewed passion, and the desire to explore, to create, to move among the trees and hills, and absorb the living muse.

Is there a canvas or surface worthy of such beauty, such steady change that continues to flourish? With the touch of our brush, we attempt to capture one moment of sunlight, one fleeting moment, with no way to chain the hands of time, to stop the star’s constant journey across the sky.

What then, is the purpose of our paints and brushes? As weapons against this powerful force, they are found worthless. Are we hopeless in trying to capture a moment in time?

We are chasing the light, with no chance of catching this flaming chariot that leaves us in the distance. Why then, do we make the attempt? Knowing our fate is to fail in our quest, why do we try, time and time, again?

Does God smile, knowing He is just teasing us with these moments that simply astound;
Moments which compel us to paint and to try to capture it on our canvas?

Sure, God smiles.  He laughs, even. It is His gift to us to hold the passion to paint in our hearts so close, we feel at times of near achievement, that we can almost touch Heaven with our brush.

God, with the temptation of such grandeur, gives purpose to us. He defines us as artists. And as artists, we must continue to try. To paint. Like breathing, we simply must.

Mona Lisa McGrew

“A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write.  If he is to be ultimately at peace with himself, what one can be, one must be.” Abraham Maslow