My newest mentor recently retired from the big time — where she ran multi-million dollar lines of business— to develop women leaders, sit on boards and… paint. A little voice inside her told her she needed to paint. She hadn’t painted since childhood, but she listened to that voice. She learned some techniques and bought some supplies. Now she paints intuitively. She paints beauty.
Intrigued, I asked if I could paint with her during our mentoring conversations. So the last two times we’ve met she’s showed me what to do.
According to her, most of what I should be doing is listening to my own intuition. I have no plan as I look at the blank paper. She tells me I can’t do it wrong. So I take a breath and dive right in. Such freedom!!!
I can’t say I paint beauty. I just paint what comes to mind. Or maybe I paint what comes to heart. Lines. Shapes. Form. Color. I especially love the colors. And I’m fascinated by what comes out during our conversations. Painting seems to connect me with my inner five-year-old.
Both my paternal grandparents were avocational artists. My grandmother went to art school in Paris; my grandfather started in his 60s. I’ve never considered myself to be artistic. I’m creative, sure. I’m not an artist. I can’t make anything look on paper the way it looks in my head. But in this context it doesn’t matter. The act of painting brings me joy. It also seems to connect me more deeply with other emotions.
Is there an activity you’d like to try? Share it in the comments below, get some supplies and learn a few techniques. Just go for it, without self-judgment!
Can’t think of anything? Maybe your inner voice is a little bit blocked. Let’s talk about getting you back in touch.