How to Find the Inner Artist

Learning to Let Go, Let God

Janice and Underdog Jones were still asleep. In the wee hours of the morning, I was inspired to paint more than write.

So, I did paint. I started learning to paint during the pandemic that locked us into our homes for too long. The more I practice, the easier it gets to let my inner artist let go and let Him show me the way.

As quietly as possible, I opened the door to our garage, where I keep most of my painting supplies. I grabbed the masking tape and a few brushes and converted the kitchen table into my studio. I don’t have a “studio” at home, per se. And Janice is a saint for letting me paint in her home.

I laid an old towel over the table and placed three paint colors, a palette knife, and a few water brushes before me. My easel is a used piece of plastic board.

After taping the 8 x 10 cold-press watercolor paper onto the easel, I glanced at a reference photo on my phone. I took a deep breath, dipped the big brush into a recycled plastic container, wet the paper, and lightly touched the prime blue gouache paint, which would become the sky you see.

Watching what happens when paint hits the water is magical. One aspect of watercolor painting is what my YouTube teachers call “being loose.” I’m loose as can be even though I’ve consumed a small bucket of fresh roast coffee; black, please.