The Past is in Color

L @rheumarhyme
Nov 3 · 3 min read

A couple of weeks back I joined a tweet chat (#DuyanChat) which was about Art & Mental Health. Before I permanently deleted my (then) Facebook, these were my artworks.

I haven’t painted in a very long while, and channel my creativity elsewhere like digital design and poetry. But I do miss the brushes. Perhaps one day I will pick it up again.

Koi. (and my toes)

These used to decorate the pond where the real koi were. But they’re also painted on tiles placed outside, so they either broke soon after or were eventually weathered off. Thankfully I kept my facebook photos, so here they are.

Many times we hear “sayang” when we express regret. But the koi were meant for decor, and they served their purpose. Their beauty faded, their bodies broken, but their memories of me painting them, the mess I made, my father’s proud look, will be forever.

Bird

I used to do a lot of photo to canvas. Sometimes I think it’s because I have nothing original. Or maybe metaphorically, if I can take charge of this photo and transfer it into my own, I can do the same in life.

I think this painting is still in the attic. I should have it framed some time.

Owlery

Another photo to painting. They’re not exactly alike. Sometimes we need to make choices. We’re not perfect, but we can be just as beautiful.

Tiger

This painting I remember was a surprise. I was trying to copy from a National Geographic magazine (who remembers those?). I was pretty sure I was screwing it up, until I realized it was turning out ok. Sometimes we are too hard on ourselves, we just need to press on.

Wolf in snow

I don’t remember if in the original photo if the wolf was covered in snow. Was it leaves? But I remember I had given up this painting. I slapped a huge white chunk of paint because gray was so hard to control.

I liked this the most. Perhaps I should look for it in the attic and have it framed for my clinic.


Looking at my files now, I realized I have many more photos of my paintings. I’d like to share them all again here but maybe I should look for them since memories gather dust in the attic. Or maybe some day I’ll share something new, who knows?

rheumwithaview

There is a Japanese word, “Komorebi” (木漏れ日) which is “the light that passes between forest trees”. I think that’s really pretty. I hope I do see some light in between the daily trees I see outside my (computer) window.

L @rheumarhyme

Written by

Rheum. Poet. Languages Student. Grad Student. Posts are my own. They are not endorsements & they do not reflect my former nor current affliated institutions.

rheumwithaview

There is a Japanese word, “Komorebi” (木漏れ日) which is “the light that passes between forest trees”. I think that’s really pretty. I hope I do see some light in between the daily trees I see outside my (computer) window.

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