Layers

The message in most of my writing comes from a place of reflection. And if you’re a photographer or an artist you understand about composition, light, shadows, and tone. When those perspectives are applied to how you see your own life, the chaos of a mixing pallet, the deep shadows, and the stark contrast of your black & white photo - start to make sense in the context of understanding development. I am a fan of deep development. The things I enjoy aesthetically have depth, texture, shadows…interestingness. They also elicit emotion. You look at it and it hits your heart in some way. Layers and layers of paint are like layers of your life experiences. They bring something forward you might not have understood or could see without the combined layers of color, tone, and texture. Having a little grace for your life, for what you didn’t understand, and for what others didn’t understand of you, gives room to step back and have compassion for yourself and others. This isn’t justification for the painful parts of your life by any means. It just is what it is. There are many things that contribute to your life circumstances that are out of your control and in most cases are not prepared for. But, the more I step back, the more I can respond to things with a broader perspective and the more room I have to feel what I need to feel about it.