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Blurred Vision

I wrote this as a letter of encouragement to my nephew who loves to paint 
but doubts his ability. He is quite good for such a young age.
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The young artist was painting down by the lake for hours.
and was very pleased with this work in water colors his favorite medium.
Just as he was adding the finishing brush strokes there was a sudden downpour 
and he was unable to get himself or his work to shelter fast enough.

The canvas got wet now all he had to show for his time and effort was
a pretty colored blur on canvas that looked nothing like he intended at all.

Feeling a bit sad he let it dry but rather than paint over it he chose to 
keep and display it prominently in his studio as a reminder for himself alone.
Now that painting which he had finally titled “Blurred Vision”  
sat on the side table right next to the studio door.  

            A reminder that he could have gotten angry and let himself 
            feel that he had wasted all that time he had put into his art that day.
           Or brood over the paint he may have felt he had wasted as well as
           the framed canvas.  You invest more than time in your art.

visitors to his studio would notice the painting as they turned to leave and
some would ask  “what am I supposed to see here?”
“what ever you like, it’s art.” was his usual reply.

When asked “what is this?”   He replied “That was my best art lesson.”

A good many years have passed since that wet day and every time he goes out of doors 
to paint, perhaps by the lake as is his custom he is happy that he chose to keep that 
little reminder sitting there on the side table by the studio door because it makes him 
smile to remember a beautiful day along time ago of time well spent doing what he loves 
to do and not to forget the umbrella

Copyright © Monty Newman | Year Posted 2010

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