‘Small Fish in a Big Pond-ering’ – Day 64/365

‘Small Fish in a Big Pond-ering’ – Day 64/365

It’s the pondering that matters, not the size of the pond you’re doing it in.


ORIGINAL COPY POSTED ON INSTAGRAM DURING THE CHALLENGE

The saying goes it’s better to be a small fish in a big pond. But what about whales (ignoring for a moment that they are mammals, not fish). No one can say they are small by any stretch of the imagination. It doesn’t matter how big an ocean you put them into. So I wonder if the size of the fish you are is perhaps not decided by the ones judging your size in correlation to their own. If you’re happy roaming, exploring and discovering in the space you occupy, even if others deem it to be a small pond, that’s their perspective, not your truth. To me, it’s the pondering that matters, not the size of the pond you’re doing it in.
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That’s my little ‘left at the traffic lights’ Tuesday musings 🙂
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Another one inspired by @deniscebulec Photography

Derivative work created with permission from the photographer

‘Pearler’ – Day 48/365

‘Pearler’ – Day 48/365

ORIGINAL COPY POSTED ON INSTAGRAM DURING THE CHALLENGE

Ever feel like where you’re going makes no sense? This pearl of a quote from Moby Dick found me and it’s a goodie to console a wandering heart.
“It is not down on any map; true places never are.”
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If you love ocean photography, this piece is inspired by the stunning work of @fainepearl (ha – what a koinkidink) She’s a true mermaid!

‘Out of Your Depths’ – Day 47/ 365 – Gifted

‘Out of Your Depths’ – Day 47/ 365 – Gifted

“This whale was a killer and it’s not even a killer whale,” she wailed.
I’m posting this painting, wondering for the first time if its truly done? I’m also wondering if anything is ever truly done – or whether we can simply arrive at a place where we’re done with it – ready to breach, to come up for air.

Artist study. Not for sale.


ORIGINAL COPY POSTED ON INSTAGRAM DURING THE CHALLENGE

There is so much I want to tell you about this painting. I want to tell you about how I really started it last year and left it unfinished because it was too hard for me at the time. I want to tell you about how I struggled to prioritise painting yesterday because the house was such a mess and the inbox so full. I want to tell you about how hard I found it still, after two months of solid painting. “This whale was a killer and it’s not even a killer whale,” she wailed.

I felt utterly out of my depth yesterday, in life and in painting. But how cool is that thought? That out of our depths is exactly the deep, blue place from which we must keep emerging.

I’m posting this painting, wondering for the first time if its truly done? I’m also wondering if anything is ever truly done – or whether we can simply arrive at a place where we’re done with it – ready to breach, to come up for air.

This breathing exercise really helped me stay energised while painting last night:
Inhale for 6 seconds through your nose.
Exhale for 2 seconds through your mouth.
Repeat x 4.
From the @oakmeditation app.

Deep Breath. Just keep swimming.#DoriMantra
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Painting from photography of @thurstonphoto