Beauty
“What imagination seizes as beauty must be truth.” John Keats
I painted Beauty in early August, shortly before the total solar eclipse, which we caught in John Day, Oregon.
The eclipse was a summer zenith of awe, cosmic mystery, and great American road trip. Scott and I met up in Portland after I finished taking a painting workshop with Jesse Reno, and took off from there into the high desert of central Oregon.
My painting Beauty, with images of teeth shining as if for a selfie, a band-aid on a cheek, scratches and boo-boos, precariously balanced on a tipsy pedestal, and a sort of sweetness in her mismatched eyes, is how I have felt for nearly six months.
In October we were caught in the devastating Santa Rosa wildfire. Thankfully, our home and my studio were not harmed, though Scott’s place of business was badly damaged. In December I tripped and fell on cement and hurt my face under my cheek, just like Beauty, who was painted in August. I am recovering from pneumonia in my left lung. And on the day of the Blue Blood moon, the second moon of January and a total lunar eclipse, our cat Nora was killed by a car. From eclipse to eclipse, it’s been a wild ride.
Sometimes paintings hold the future. Beauty’s childlike sweetness and humor made me smile between the eclipses, through precarious times. Seize that beauty.
I’ll be sharing new paintings and exploring ideas in more depth in my upcoming Tinyletters.
“The pursuit of truth and beauty is a sphere of activity in which we are permitted to remain children all our lives.” Albert Einstein
Saltworkstudio | Suzanne Edminster 
Wild ride indeed! I just love the healing power of painting, you take care…..Paula
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Yeah, I wanted to be authentic in communication without it being too sad. Take care, Paula!
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Always feels good to hear your voice, always authentic and inspiring. I admire your ability to capture yourself, makes me pause and find myself in place and time.
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Yes, a delicate balance. Decided I had to plunge into the deep end of the blog pool again!
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I believe that painting can be predictive, and even pre-set the future…….the Chinese Lunar New Year will soon be here with new beginnings of the cycle……
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Feb. 16 in China! I usually like St. Brigid’s Day, which is also Bear or Groundhog day, or the Celtic Imbolc— this year it was had more endings than beginnings. But I am planting flowers today… for Beauty.
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I’m sorry to hear so much happened to you in a short six months. May painting bring peace and healing to your soul.
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Thanks, Terry! I am feeling better… I can feel the spring!
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So glad you’re back to blogging! Your voice must be heard! I am so sorry to hear about your little Nora and the pneumonia, all in one season.
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