"Painting is an autobiography", which Stefan Baumann said on his you tube, "The Power to Improve Your Paintings by Telling A Story." I had just fixed lunch and thought, what should I write about this painting I finished ten years ago?
Where was I in my life then?
Where am I in my life now? and
how does that all apply to this moment?
In my artistic life with my paintings,
I like to think the painting and myself are one thing or an excellent friend. The image is a wise friend that shares discoveries with me. In this pastel painting, I notice two points touching each other and then flowing into the rest of the picture. Yes! that is what I just said; the creating of the painting enriches my life. We are friends and together, we discover a pearl of wisdom that neither of us could achieve alone.

As I write, I smile more, much more to explore in this painting and my life. I am not near the end but the journey is clear to me that it will never end. I find these thoughts reassuring as I retired from teaching art this year at age 78 and have emerged myself in the act of creating art and life—what a beautiful gift this practice of being an artist.