Embracing Variety and the Unexpected
Painting by Heather Harrington | Titled: Market Days | Acrylic on Stretched Canvas 10” x 10” 5/8” depth
The beautiful bouquet created byIndieGrow Flower Farm that is the inspiration for my second floral painting in the series “Blooming.”
I’m a planner by nature and, if I’m being honest, a bit of a “Type A” personality. In addition to Life and Whim, I own a marketing business with Jay and third partner, and my job is to design and plan out projects from start to finish. And as a mom of three girls, I am always planning their activities and our family’s day to day so that I can be as efficient as possible with my time.
Each day I get up early. I write my journal pages and plan out my day with my to-do list so I can see the breakdown of what I’m working on. Everything is planned, almost to the minute. While this makes me efficient and allows me to have time for painting and other things I enjoy, it also creates an illusion. The illusion that I have some sort of control in the world.
This week, on Tuesday, after a warm spring-like day on Monday, we awoke to several inches of snow and an alert from the school district that it was a snow day. Jay roused me out of a deep sleep by saying “Guess what?” After hearing the news my mind immediately went to what I was “supposed” to get done that now there wouldn’t be time for. And I started complaining. It was 5:30 a.m. and I hadn’t even gotten out of bed and the day seemed to be off to a bad start.
Then I reconsidered. I decided that I needed a different approach to my day. I shifted my thoughts. The day was still ahead, and it could be a good one. While I hadn’t planned for this, I could embrace it. After all, so much of life is dealing with the unexpected, and there is beauty in the unexpected.
The painting above is the second in my “Blooming” floral series inspired by IndieGrow Flower Farm’s lovely creations. The painting is titled “Market Days.” I selected this bouquet to paint because I loved the vivid colors and the unusual combination of flowers that were used together. It was a gentle reminder that sometimes things work together that you wouldn’t imagine—or expect. I hope you enjoy it and that it brings some cheer to your day!
