The Still Life

it’s Saturday morning and I am feeling a little blue…

there is a text on my phone

from a student and it reads,

“Hi Linda, I especially wanted you to see these pages inspired by something you said, “...I am forcing myself to embrace the still life…maybe you are too.” Here too, are the pages I’ve finished so far..a complete and total God-send to me. Thank you for showing up as your most wonderful self. You bless me. Stay well.”

This text touched my heart and brought tears to my eyes. She also sent pictures of her beautiful art journal pages inspired by Georgia O’Keeffe. Since the coronavirus crisis, all classes were shut down and we did not get to complete our class. I sent emails to my students giving them prompts and ideas for completing their pages, ideas for using the time, space, and margin we find in our lives right now. In essence, embracing the still life..by making art. It’s what we have right now, virtual connections, emails, ZOOM meetings, texts, and phone calls. And sometimes a text, like the one above, reaches through time and space. It gives connection to this time of isolation and breathes life into separation. Thank you friend for sending this to me. The still life has a beauty all it’s own and shows up in different ways. For me, seeing the artful journal pages which accompanied this text were a balm for my soul.

Vincent Van Gogh – “White Roses”