Let us feel and make a mess

Warning: this post contains shocking images.

Painting is not about the result, but about the lived and expressed emotions at one moment in your life - past, present, future - it's all about you, what you choose to paint and how, the mysteries of why remaining unsolved even to you. You just know that after you do it you feel better, lighter and more in touch with your inner something.  Scholars study hard to be able to understand you, critics try to explain and your emotions get translated to numbers in a billion business.

You and I know if you have the product in mind, you're lying to yourself. Forget about how nice or coordinated it looks. Paint for yourself. Paint just to paint, like children do. When we're kids we live in the present, without worries. We find great joy in being, doing it's just a mere means to feel. We experiment in order to feel, not the other way around.

My friend and I speak about how we sometimes disconnect from our kids - and probably disconnect from the kid we always hold within and always are - and that results in boredom or stress or even anger for all. My solution is: bring in the heavy artillery. What is that? It's pushing your limits as an adult. Have a water fight even if winter, even if indoors, even if you got a new carpet. Forget about money, your inner child couldn't care less and so is the kid standing in front of you. Forget about how you think things should be in your imaginary picture perfect life. Or cook something, flour everywhere, the messier the better.

Or... paint. Without a theme, without care for objects, just care for the spirit. Let the child paint with all of her senses and do so too. Fingers, tummies, toes, even pyjamas can have a new design. Feel the unctuous substance. See the colours combine. Let go of your feelings and mix them in.

I'm telling you like I tell to myself, babe, phenomenal woman, diva darling :-) relax. These images are not shocking, they are the proof of fun. Proof of mark making. Of life.

Everything is washable and stuff is replaceable. For God's sake, the carpet might still be here after you're not, so why care more for it than for yourself? Undress the heavy clothes of Nothing and live. Paint together with your kid. Laugh. Don't think about the result, don't think at all. Stay in the moment.

And then, by all means, take a shower.