Being irrepressible

In the darkness before dawn

Throughout the winter in my corner of the world, the color drains from the landscape until there's very little to be found.

Color-seeking organism as I am, the last few weeks of winter can be particularly drab, a darkness before dawn.

So why not embrace it?

What forms, patterns, and textures are revealed when color is removed, leaving only the contrasting values of lighter and darker? What beauty can be found there?

I've begun to explore this question.

Having abandoned my former obsession with the perfection illusion, I’m free to approach everything as a learning experience.

I find delight in approaching a new artistic subject with fresh curiosity, playing around and making discoveries for myself before delving too deeply into the discoveries others have made during their artistic quests.

What happens if I do this? Or this? Or this?

My word for this year came to me late last month.

Irrepressible.

And another whole way of seeing the world opens to me, again.

I am part of nature. My curiosity is part of me.

In my ears right now: The Light by Regina Spektor