Some years back, I got an idea to do something for the first time. I love firsts! They don´t happen often enough and yet I am open and curious (and always have space for improvement there) so I welcome them.
This particular idea I have no clue where it came from, so I call it Divine intervention. I don´t know anyone who does or have done this; Paint by numbers.
My motivation to do this, was that I wanted to give my brain a new challenge, use it in a way I had never done. This, I practise, teach and almost preach, in my work. Like, sit a different chair at your kitchen table, different seat in the living room, take a new route to your work and/or grocery shop, put on your pants with the other leg first. And so on. You are welcome 🙂
So I went online and ordered 2 objects (paintings to be) and got them. Then they sat there. Tucked away in a room. I moved house I think 3 times (something I do on a somewhat regular basis – get new perspectives, remember?) and one fine day I started painting. A little bit. Time passed. Long time passed. I painted some more. Time passed. I relocated to a different island. I have lived there now almost a year.
And about a month or so ago, I picked it up again. And I have now finished both these objects.
During this time of more focused painting, I have also realised and learned a bunch of things, about myself and this type of process, which I will share here below. In the form of metaphors, cause that is something that I use a lot in my work.
I have an old buddy in this land who ”is” an artist. The painting kind. And I have said, for years, the more I’ve heard her speak about the art classes that she gives, how similar the internal processes are between her students and my clients.
This became even more clear to me now, being the subject myself.
Paint by numbers is that you get a prepaid real canvas, on which an image is printed, divided in a vast number of fields. Each field has a number. Each number correlates with a particular colour. A paint by numbers set comes with the printed canvas, a bunch of numbered water colours and (way too few) brushes. That’s the kit. When you search for this, you will find various motives/images to choose from.
So these are my reflections of the similarities between life in general and painting by numbers – in the form of metaphors, in no particular order:
– When you are/look too close to something/one, you tend to lose perspective and also can’t see the bigger picture. Focus where it matters. Zoom out/take a step back sometimes. Get a different perspective.
- Breathing is essential. Holding your breath while doing is not good strategy. Your brain and body need oxygen to function fully.
- Steady hand vs wobbly. Both have a time and place. Steady tends to give a more precise outcome, and yet is that always something to strive for..? Remember that perfectionism/perfect IS a myth!
- Following instructions can many times lead to less complications; and even better results than you would have come up with. Get out of your own way! Kick out your ego, cause ego always gets you into trouble. Not the good kind.
- You do not ”have to” paint in the numerical order that the paints come in. Choosing your own order gives you more options, freedom and reminds you that as long as you are breathing – you always have choices. Your mind is the strongest culprit for your perception of your limitations.
- Life doesn’t reveal all the information or even the full outcome beforehand. It is a Process. Start! Put one foot in front of the other. Have FAITH! (work through your fears is the way to get that. Sometime it’s taking a fear by the hand and doing something anyway. Fear will then cease, faith and courage arrives. After the actual doing. Trust the process!
- We don´t know in advance who/what´s gonna work out with whom/what. The important thing is to get in there, start. Then more will be revealed.
- Beauty/art as well as Life needs diversity; colours, nuances, shades, – differences. We get richer for it. Our lives and our world get fuller, deeper, wider.
- Stay open and curious – not judgemental – in order to learn, grow and be enriched.
- You can’t do all at once. It’s important to stop and acknowledge the progress, to see the bigger picture starting to get clearer – and to let the paint dry so you don´t smudge it all over when you start again…
- You’re not going to see every area the first time; sometimes you’re going to need to come back a second, third, fourth and maybe fifth or more time. It takes time to get a clear vision and to see passed all the blur and distractions.
- Don´t wait too long to start – the paint might dry up all together, beyond use…
Lotta CBT Lifecoach 