Recently, I was keeping my friend company while he worked on a mural for a dance troupe in Maryland. The mural depicted the inside of a subway car moving through a tunnel. He had worked on it for a couple of days before I actually showed up to keep him company in the studio. While I was there, he asked me to pick up a brush and help. I was hesitant at first because I haven’t painted in years and I didn’t want to ruin his masterpiece. After a day of nagging, he finally convinced me to pick up a brush.
For my part, I chose to do the map of the subway system. Surprisingly, it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. I actually enjoyed the process of creating my own version of the map. Even though it took me several hours over the course of three days to finish the painting, I found the experience relaxing and fulfilling.
In the end, the finished product turned out to be very nice. The kids who snuck in to view the mural thought my map was the coolest part of the mural, which totally made my day. The owners were pleased as well.
The entire experience made me realize that I’m truly in my element when I’m being creative and part of the creative process. Hmm…Maybe I should pick up a brush more often. It’s a thought.
