I remain astonished by the joy that can burst through the creative process.

I heard Martha Beck (in an interview with Glennon Doyle, on her podcast You can do hard things) say, "The single sign you've lost yourself is suffering." Is it perhaps true then that "the single sign you've found yourself is joy"? Feels true.

I continue to NOT understand the ways of the studio. How is it that I enter with awareness of suffering on personal, familial, local, national and global levels. Stay with that awareness. Offer lovingkindness. Move paint around on a canvas. And feel a heart warming burst that cannot help but cause me to smile (it also makes me cry).

I text a friend, "Try to be miserable while looking at this painting." It just isn't possible.

To me this is the medicine of beauty. There ARE miserable difficult things unfolding in life. It's just that the beauty of nature and art is not limited by the difficulties of life. It breaks through. You know heartache and still joy breaks through. With time and quiet we learn to hold both.

"Joy Burst"

60" x 40"

(c) Bronwen Mayer Henry

(Acrylic on Canvas)