Art Life During Covid
How many of you painted during covid? I have to say it was the last thing I wanted to do during lock down.
You see, I paint from deep within and I was angry that I had to close my business for 3 1/2 months!
Naturally I was concerned about being able to reopen. so many businesses did not and I am truly
grateful to be open and doing what I love!
The world topsy turvy, uncertain and in an instant our daily routines abruptly ceased for
most of American workers. The first two weeks I could not focus on anything for too long. I kept looking
at my honey and we would both take turns asking the same question, "Can you believe this shit?"
They also closed the liquor stores in Pa! Really? "Can you believe this shit?!"
Oh, how the pandemic instilled panic, doubts, fear of dying and losing loved ones all from a virus we
knew nothing about ! I'm not a scientist but i know that all virus , no matter how long ,we stay in and
away from people, when we come out the virus will spike , mutate and hopefully die down.
So what has this to do with painting? Well, some of us can paint through hard , happy and sad times.
There are those of us , myself included, had a hard time getting to it. There were blocks and some pretty
intense feeling through all this , including mourning the loss of the life we had going.
I did draw and paint the virus on tile while on shut down. I wrote the word "collapse" on one and proceeded
to paint over all four tiles and during the painting of them, evolved abstract flowery , spring like paintings and
two reddish green, mutated forms.
Painting makes me happy, gives me energy especially when it comes organically. So, i could not focus too long
on any one project including reading for too long. For the first week or so , I felt like someone died when I
closed the salon doors. The old life I had was suddenly gone and then things began to slowly change. Self inquiry
of who am I without the salon? Does being a business owner describe me? Is that all I am, without the money,
job and titles, who is left? Very deep questions and thoughts, eh?
Meanwhile I was busy setting my business up to re-open , keeping staff on board with zoom meetings, talking to many
clients and sending out products to get them through grow out of their grey. After all, we were only going to be closed
for two weeks right? Ha!
Fast forward to April 2021. As of March , I started painting and these bouquet of flowers in containers started to
emerge. I knew some of the past years experiences would come up and out. My thoughts? "Bye bye covid" and with
covid still in our lives it felt great to paint big , bold and beautiful colored flowers! These bold girls (flowers) are
symbolically saying to the universe and me that we grow from struggles, through destruction comes the will to THRIVE
no matter what. We either evolve with the changes or turn inward, stay stuck and miss out on the good moments .
I don't know about you but closing down is not for me! This witchy, artsy, nerdy gypsy will thrive, paint, create and
do a little dance. I will keep my heart open to life and painting! Paint and Carry On!
~Mary Luz~
