October 2022 – Kay Foley

Third Place in Non-Professional Painting

This past Saturday I won an award in painting and sold several small paintings, all in one day! Whoa. I cannot say how thrilling this is, how it makes me feel like I’m on my right path, etc. Painting, which I once found somehow terrifying, is now a thing that I love. It’s just a little over a year since I took a course called “Find Your Joy” with Louise Fletcher. And I really did find it. I found my joy. That, in and of itself, is a beautiful thing. But one cannot deny that awards can be lovely, too.

Louise always says that other people’s opinions should not matter. The joy is in doing what you love. Yeah, sure. I cannot argue with that. Very very true. But still! An award!! And many sales!! In painting–a thing I never thought I could do and have been working very hard at all through this last year.

I’ve been a collage artist, writer, and card maker for so many years. I’ve won awards in mixed media at art festivals, even 2D Best of Show one time, but it’s been awhile. Every year prior to this I’ve entered collages of one kind or another into a local art show that I particularly love, a show that people in the community can enter free of charge, with no risk of being juried out. I adore this. It means that I’ll walk through the show and see that Who’s It paints! So & So does pastels! What’s His Name makes beautiful sculptures! So fun! And prizes are awarded.

This year, having found my joy, I entered a large-ish painting, without fear of ridicule, embarrassment, or loss of limb. I had zero expectations. I had never won a prize in mixed media at this particular show, although some years I thought I had a shot. Never. Never, for years. But now I have, in a medium that I once found so intimidating.

Over the moon I went. Right over it. I zoomed right over it. A banner day, a banner weekend. I could not wait to tell everyone. A freaking award in painting!! Have I mentioned that I went right over the moon? I so did. I am still there, still someplace way beyond the moon. The thing that gives me joy also gave someone else joy, and thus gained me a ribbon. So, okay, the joy really is more important. But I’m pretty sure it’s the joy spilling out all over the place that won me the award. Yeah.

“They say a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world: someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for.” ― Tom Bodett

“When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy.” ― Rumi

“Comparison is the death of joy.” ― Mark Twain

Thanks for listening,
Kay

P.S. MerryThoughts is the name of my first book, out of print at the moment. The word is a British one, referring both to a wishbone and to the ritual of breaking the wishbone with the intention of either having a wish granted or being the one who marries first, thus the “merry thoughts.”

I get a rash every time I recover from any sort of illness. The first time it happened, it was assumed that I was allergic to the penicillin I’d been given. That was a million years ago and I have developed that rash ever since, the morning after I’ve turned the corner, no matter what has made me sick or what I took to get over it.

This week I had a rough 24 hours from the flu shot. The next morning, there was that rash, a visible sign that I am better. Ahh. It always makes me smile. And I feel better still, because of that friendly rash.

(The downside this time was that I was denied my weekly allergy shot because of it. “But it happens all the time!” I cried. “It doesn’t itch!” “It’ll be gone tomorrow!” I never thought I’d beg for a shot in the arm but it is ragweed season and I wanted that shot.)

I’ve been thinking about this little rash. Once a nurse remarked, “What a funny little body!” when I told her. But I feel pretty lucky to have a body that gives me a visible sign that I’ve healed. You are good to go, it says. All better. It’s like having a loving parent who kisses your booboo to make it better. The rash actually adds to my good feeling. No ambiguity. I know I’m better when that rosy little rash shows up. I’m kind of like a plant whose leaves pull up from drooping when it’s given what it needs.

Wouldn’t it be great to have a simple, visible sign that other things are getting better, without conjecture or speculation? Things like relationships, your art practice, the economy, the pandemic, the environment? You could just have a look and know. Oh! It’s better now! Whew! No well-meaning friend offering advice, no puffed up critic, analyst or pundit Telling All. Just an easy knowing.

Punctuation is all important! Is it, “Dogs, please close the gate” or “Dogs!! Please close the gate!”?

I suppose we could rely on our inner knowing for personal things, if only we trusted it. But then there are doubts and limiting beliefs and all. Ugh. And on the others, things are just not that simple, are they? I am happy that I do at least have this “funny little body” to say, Hey! You’re all right! whenever I’ve had a minor illness.

“The existentialist cannot accept that man can be helped by any sign on earth, for he will interpret the sign as he chooses.” ― Jean-Paul Sartre

“The untuned mind receives no signal from the universe.” ― Michael Bassey Johnson, Song of a Nature Lover

“For those of you who are, ‘waiting for a sign . . .’ if you woke up today, THAT’S YOUR SIGN!” ― Steve Maraboli

If you’re looking for my cards or art, you’ll find all of that on my website. If you enjoy these letters, feel free to forward this one to anyone you think might like it. And if someone forwarded this one to you, you can sign up here to receive the letters right in your Inbox. Finally, you’ll find past letters and poems here.

Thanks for listening,
Kay

P.S. MerryThoughts is the name of my first book, out of print at the moment. The word is a British one, referring both to a wishbone and to the ritual of breaking the wishbone with the intention of either having a wish granted or being the one who marries first, thus the “merry thoughts.”

Month: October 2022

An Award in Painting!

Signs