As an artist, I think about how much pressure we place on ourselves when we create. Usually we want every line to be right, every piece to say something meaningful, and every space to be filled. We usually strive to get our work to look exactly how we imagined it.
I see this pattern in myself, other artists I admire, and sometimes in my students. The fear of the image not being how we imagined it can sometimes frighten us so much that we’re scared to create at all. The fear of failure holds us back.
As I’ve been working through these experiences — in my own practice and alongside others — I’ve been trying to reclaim the gentle, playful side of painting. The joy of creating just to create, which reminds me why I loved painting so much in the first place. That joy led to something new in my studio: my Little Moments series.
These are small paintings made on tiny cards, created without pressure or expectations. They’re places to experiment, to explore color, to breathe. They remind me that art doesn’t always need to be serious or planned. Sometimes it can simply be a small moment of breathing room to explore something new.
One of the pieces I’m most fond of from this series is a little cherry blossom I painted. It wasn’t for a show, a commission, or a deadline. It was just a small moment of joy — and that’s exactly what makes it meaningful.
As the year winds down and we start to embrace the upcoming business of the holidays, I hope you’ll honor a little moment of your own — and see what blooms from it.
Yours Truly,
Makara