Several years ago I watched and very much enjoyed a documentary series about early artists who later became very famous, though most of them did not live to see their fame! In watching this series, a concept included in one of them became very interesting to me, and I have never forgotten it.
The old artist told his young apprentice that if she wanted to be a great artist she must first learn to see the light within the dark. He gave the apprentice a piece of black soapstone and then instructed her to see the image within the darkness and then bring the light up through the dark, and allow the image to emerge– basically, creating the image in reverse.
While preparing to write this particular post, I thought about how fortunate I am to call several talented artists ‘friend.’ My artist friends’ paintings remind me that life itself can be seen as a blank canvass.
My friend Will Berry, an artist living and exhibiting in Mexico City, created a painting as a way to work through his mother’s death. He told me he would never sell the painting, but he did donate it to a museum to help them raise money. I know first-hand that this was the perfect way to honor his mother, a woman I liked very much. She was a giver, and this particular type of philanthropy would have made her very happy – a perfect symbolism of her life. Will’s paintings are in collections all over the United States and beyond. I absolutely adore his work. In this particular situation, he definitely pulled the light from the darkness he was experiencing with his mother's passing.
I have many friends who are wonderful artists: Elizabeth Wise, Lisa Ernst, Joe Johnson, Lain York, Anice Rouse ... lots of artist friends, and I love all their work. Seeing their work and having them as friends has taught me something about art and how it relates to life.
I have surgery very soon. It will be major. They will be checking to make certain all the cancer is gone.
In coming to terms with this, I am attempting to see a blank canvass before me. I have an easel, a palette, a variety of paint in a range of hues, and my imagination knows no limit. What will I create? How will I create this? Will I choose bright or subdued colors? Will I make bold, broad strokes, or will I choose finer, feathery strokes. Will what I create be expected or unexpected? It is completely up to me.
Life is like this as well. Those with cancer, or any illness or life challenge, must learn to take the black soapstone in hand, look deeply into the darkness, and see the light that will emerge and bring the image forth, having faith that the light is indeed there. Sometimes the image that emerges is expected, sometimes it is unexpected, but each most definitely holds the gift of light and a beauty all its own.
If you look for it, you will see it. But, you must look for it. The light cannot exist without the darkness.
Let there be Light.
"The life that is calling you has no fear in it. Whether you create that life or not is for you to decide. You do not have to choose harmony, cooperation, sharing, and reverence for Life in your daily struggles, but they are required if you want your new life. You do not have to listen to the wisdom and compassion that are now coming into your consciousness, but you won't be able to create your new life if you don't. Which will you choose - your new life or your fears?" ~Gary Zukav