How watercolor light up our life amid a pandemic

#covid19 #watercolor #stayathome

Context

It has been 6 months since the global pandemic break into our world. At home, it is easy to let work and life blend together into the thick mist. What is your light that guides you through this uncertain time?

I found watercolor. When I feel isolated, watercolor keeps me connected; when I am stressed, watercolor helps me build resilience; when I am simply bored, watercolor cheers me up by unveiling the beauty of life.

Here is what I want to share with you.

1. See the roses in the corner again

Before the pandemic, I lived a busy life and merely had time to take care of my backyard. However, after a few months of working at home, I found myself visiting my backyard every other hour.

Then I noticed, in the corner of my backyard, there is a little rose. In the morning, the color of its petals is fresh, with rolling dew drops reflecting the light; but when against the dawn, the little rose looks a bit upset as if it is reluctant to sleep.

“Nobody sees a flower really; it is so small. We haven’t had time, and to see takes time.” - Georgia O’Keefe

Watercolor provides me a way to unplug from the digital world. It forces me to look around, and take time observing the shape of a leaf, the texture of a branch, and the color of a growing plum.

2. Visit the places you dream of exploring, no flight tickets needed

The feeling of upset approached me on a Friday afternoon. I had to click on every “cancel” button for each of my travel tickets, including my annual trip back to my hometown in China.

So I decided to travel the world with my watercolor paintings.

I started by visiting the water towns in China, and then the Gondola in Venice. When the summer heat hit me, I imagined living in a little cabin on a snowy mountain.

Then I went back to my hometown. I laid down on an awning boat and drifted with the flow; With my hands under my head, I saw the full moon in between the mountains casting light on me.

This new way of traveling gives me an opportunity to look at the world differently.

3. Embrace every unique watermark

As a digital native who always hits “undo” to solve errors, it drives me crazy to think of painting without an eraser.

Originally, I didn’t understand why water stains cannot be avoided? Why do the color pigments never blend as planned? And why do any small accidental touch mess up the entire canvas? Countless times, I had to take a deep breath so that I wouldn’t give up.

Surprisingly, over time I found how enjoyable my paintings can become if I continued on. This has silently changed how my eyes view and how my mind processes those little accidents. By recognizing the uniqueness of every watermark, I found each of my paintings imperfectly beautiful.

Just like life, there are moments when things don’t go as planned. We become stronger not because there was no failure or doubts, but because we continued on.

4. Hug your true self with warm color

At home, it can easily feel like stuck in the movie Groundhog Day, where every day relentlessly repeats itself. By focusing on how the color faded with a different shade of grey, I can easily enter a flow state of mind and hear my inside self whispers:

“I know sometimes life feels like climbing the cliff edge, concentrating on the path and looking up. Sometimes it can feel like walking across a suspended tightrope with high heels, finding the balance, and looking ahead.”

Sometimes, life asks us for an unrealistic leap over a seemingly deep dark gap, and we can only keep jumping and turn it into a beautiful ballet dance.

5. Find your community during the shelter in place

This year, I felt like I lived on a little island. Watercolor gives me a chance to establish new connections. Every day, I am impressed by how talented other watercolorists are. Not only do we give thumbs up on the paintings, but we give moral support to keep each other uplifted.

Last week, one colleague messaged me about how my paintings reminded her of her grandma’s house in Maine. We looked at her grandma’s house together. It is a pretty house located on a blue harbor facing a white lighthouse.

I decided to paint this pretty house. I imagined how my colleague would visit her grandma, and what her grandma would say when she sees the painting. While I was adjusting all details and gauging the light directions, I could not stop smiling.

I realized that there is no better way to find connections with other human beings at a time like this. Although physically we may live as separate islands, watercolor makes it possible for me to share the precious moments and show support to others. These are the things that make me deeply happy.

What about you?

What lights you up? What is the story you wish to tell after 2020? We would like to hear your stories.