Me, painting, close up, two weeks ago in Crestline.
(Below) one of my big pieces in the window at Sandstone.
Years ago I took a workshop for painters where I didn’t learn anything memorable except one thing: “Step back from your work.”
It seems so basic. Did I need an expensive three days in another state for that? Maybe not, but it was a teaching the instructor kept repeating as none of us were doing it. Instead we were working diligently at our easels, focusing on one detail or the other, trying to get it right. Meantime he was cruising around behind us and getting a whole other view of things . . . because he was looking at the whole.
And that, in fact, is how every viewer looks at a work of art. If it doesn’t succeed from across the room, its not succeeding, regardless of how the detail is treated.
It’s something to remember. And not just in painting.
How our lives are succeeding in the whole is what matters. We tend to forget to step back.
When we do we’ll very likely see that things ARE going well, that we ARE blessed, that our prayers ARE being answered, that what really matters is in place and we have good reason to be happy.
Of course I’m talking about the redeemed state. There was a period in my youth when quite the opposite was true. Everything was incredible hassle and I seemed to be facing only opposition on every side. It was much later I saw I was fighting God, always a hard battle to win . . . until you give in. In time I did and my experience has been more with the current ever since.*
But that’s not what I set out to say. Rather it was to remind myself, and all of us, to take a break from the immediate, the current challenges that consumes us, and look at the bigger picture.
Our lives are a canvas; we’re working on details. Others, looking from a distance, probably see a pretty good piece of art. We need to step back and see that, too.
_______
* Related to this, I’ll be speaking this Sunday on The Prodigal Son, My Own Experience. That’ll be at Heritage Christian Fellowship, San Clemente, 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. All invited.
** Also, I’ll be the featured artist at the Sandstone Gallery in the Laguna Beach Art Walk tomorrow evening. Anne’s work will be there too, as well as both of us. That’s 6:00-9:00 p.m. Again, all invited.
Our Lives Together
Its About Life
1:03 pm
Oh boy, did I ever need to hear this today! Thank you, and thank your teacher ???
1:37 pm
Thanks for the word, Hyatt!
8:15 pm
Thanks Hyatt.. what a perfect lesson of life.
3:10 am
Truth. Our perspective matters. When aligned with His, it’s true north. When it isn’t, it’s easy to get off course. Thank you.
7:43 am
so glad you get to tell your story this sunday – over and over again is what I say. plus I’ve added your story to mine, over and over again – it gives me faith to pray for those I know still in the fighting stage.
and yes, stepping back and looking broad, I am grateful indeed! love you.
8:48 am
Such a good reminder for every moment of discouragement or challenge. Maybe we are so focused on our own plan, our own minute perspective instead of God’s plan, the forever perspective. Always a reminder: it’s not about me. Thank you, Hyatt.
1:09 pm
Hi Hyatt,
It sure was good to see you last Friday; an unpexpected surprise to our trip South. Say, I couldn’t find the Nov. 1, 2012 archive that you showed me in your office? I looked at the archives of “Blank Slate” and didn’t find it. Did I miss something? I wanted to print out the blog for that day that went with the “oranges” piece of artwork.
Thanks for your help,
Patty
PS: I posted a question of this nature on FB too, but am just covering my bases so I don’t forget to get this done. Thanks!