“Portrait of Munchkin Giggle-Sprinkles” by Michele Bledsoe
Recently, I put aside my work in progress..
and ignored a looming deadline
to pour myself into a special request –
A portrait of my sister’s beloved cat
who passed away last year.
This is what art is all about.
Not the galleries and the exhibits.
Not the personal attention
and public exposure…
it’s about the gift
and what you choose to do with it.
“The Ghost and My Obsession” by Michele Bledsoe
Several years ago I was sitting at my desk
in my high-level corporate job
and I had a terrifying vision.
I imagined myself far in the future
sitting at the same desk..
doing exactly the same thing
and wondering to myself
what life would have been like
if I had decided to pursue my art instead.
Not long after that, I quit my job..
and let my path take me to where I was meant to be
instead of where I thought I should go.
In life, as in art
we must be fearless.
Trust the gift.
It’s hard to paint with a cat in your lap.
Many years ago I painted a portrait of my sister
for her Christmas present.
I am a slow painter.
If I remember correctly…
I started that painting
many months before Christmas
giving myself time
to linger over my work.
“Portrait of Sherry” by Michele Bledsoe
This Christmas
my sister asked for another portrait.
Not of herself,
but one of her beloved cat, Munchkin
who passed away this year..
leaving me 6 days to finish the painting.
6 days.
As of today, it is 5.
Did I decline her request?
Did I make excuses?
Did I explain that I simply had too many other things to do before Christmas?
No.
I just grabbed a blank canvas and started painting.
The Bridge by Michele Bledsoe
The desire to create is a gift from God.
The ceaseless passion to paint and draw
has been with me since childhood..
and by embracing this gift
it has defined my path in life
and led me to my purpose.
By nature,
the gift is selfless.
It has nothing to do with
the empty pursuit
of fame and fortune..
it is so much more than that.
Through art,
I met my husband
made friends..
and forged relationships.
Through art,
I became a volunteer drawing teacher
for a group of inner city kids..
and began working with young adults within the autism spectrum.
As an artist
I’ve found that’s it’s not all about me..
I am just a paintbrush in God’s hand.
“Soliloquy” by Michele Bledsoe
Imagine a box wrapped in many layers of colorful paper..
taped shut
tied up in ribbons
and topped with an elaborate bow.
There is something wonderful inside,
but you have to open the gift in order to get to it.
That wonderful thing hidden beneath all that wrapping paper
is the artist you were meant to be.
The way to open that gift is to keep drawing pictures.
Keep making art,
and never stop.
Remember
without you, the gift is nothing..
and a bicycle cannot ride itself.
