Joy - Gioia - Alegria - 즐거움

Why would I bring up the topic of joy now, during an on-going pandemic and economic uncertainty? It has a lot to do with why I paint, and how it helps me (and maybe you?) navigate the steady stream of bad news. I am referring to the kind of joy that comes from noticing and appreciating otherwise inconsequential objects or events that are in the realm of your daily life.

Honey Bear with Teacup, watercolor on paper, 9” x 12”

There are more obvious, big events that can bring one joy, but for me the calm, intense focus of painting - looking carefully, choosing my subject, mixing colors, manipulating paint on a surface, observing the results - clears my mind for a few hours, and results in a kind of joy. It’s not just a sense of accomplishment, but of having deeply appreciated some small details.

There is joy, also, of being at a place at a moment of time when sunlight brings out the best in a scene, and seems to demonstrate that nature, our planet Earth, is bigger (and better?!) than all of us, and makes our troubles seem small for a short while.

Lot on 8th Street, Gowanus, oil on linen, 24” x 30”

In a nutshell, for me there is joy in the process of painting and joy in what I make time to see.

What brings you joy on a regular basis?