How I Found Joy In A Pink Potted Tulip During The Pandemic

A simple thought, realization, joyful memory and tradition between a couple was how it began. A spark of creative flow, inspiration that comes from thin air, also known as creative genius or magic to some. For me it is authentic intuition from deep within, it was as clear as day. It turned into a theme for spring in my studio, Pink Tulips. Joy comes to me daily in simple things and moments.

Years ago now, truthfully more like decades, Brandon who you should now know as my partner in life, knowing my joy of flowers would gift me a bouquet for my birthday. Noticing my joy he made it a tradition and during this time of year as the birds begin to sing, I always enjoyed beautiful pink tulips in the house. It was hard for me to keep my eyes off them as the colour always drew me in like a mesmerizing hypnotist. There is something truly alluring about the combination of pink and green. A few weeks back now, I realized that there was something missing in the house this year, the delightful colour of my bright pink and green potted pink tulips. I was missing the joy of Pink Tulips.

After a wee bit of ruminating I decided to create my own pink tulip joy and developed a palette which evoked a similar emotion to pink and green tulips. Being an artist is a unique way of living in which one is gifted a sensational ability of critical thinking skills. I dipped into my Mary Poppins tapestry bag and solved my problem from thin air. I didn’t need to delve very deep at all into that mysterious bag which shows no bottom of possibility as long as you know how to look. My answer was softly lying near the surface of the bag, almost peaking out like a scarf hanging over a bentwood chair. It came to me with relative ease, an absolute delight of an idea. I would paint tulips into my life this year. One must be extra creative in a pandemic.

I opened my black hardcover sketchbook and grabbed a handful of my small acryla-gouache paint tubes and began to work rather quickly and effortlessly developing my palette. It seemed to just naturally come together almost as if I had subconsciously been ruminating this palette in some alter universe. Perhaps it comes from years of tulip memory happiness. As I laid out my paints in my sketchbook to view my colour choices it was absolute joy, there in front of me was my lovely pink tulip palette.

Spring paintings were bound to be exciting and I was excited to paint my visions, so I immediately began working on small watercolour studies. Little 4 inch square compositions are popping up in my studio whenever I have energy and a few minutes of time. In these studies I have been developing some awesome layering and textured dry brushing colour combinations. The spring Pink Tulip series of paintings are very fresh, captivating and promising.

On grocery day I was surprised as Brandon came into the living room and approached the chaise. I was sitting snuggled in for the evening with heat on my shoulders, Fionny and Dolores at altering sides and Acorn TV primed for a British crime show. From behind his back he presented my moms teal blue pot planted with a Canasta Pink Tulip. He was able to order the potted tulip with our grocery order, of course as I had no idea and was super excited by the addition of a pink tulip in my studio. It gave me such plans, one of them being this blog I am writing at present. It didn’t stop there, it just blossomed like the petals of the Pink Canasta Tulip.

My camera and sketchbook have both been close at hand in order to document this cherished tulip daily with photos, sketches and words. It has truly been an authentic and exciting development in my studio for spring, filling my active time with such delightful experiences. While I take my pacing breaks I have a beautiful ever-changing piece of natural life keeping me company. Each day gives me a new glimpse of the bright pink colour that will fill my studio in time. Yesterday I was given a glimpse of my fathers tall red tulips breaching the soil outdoors in the front garden bed of my English garden, this is bound to call me out of the studio for pacing rests in coming days with warmer weather and sun breaks for my muscles. For now I am joyfully enjoying living in the moment with my pink Canasta tulip blossoming by my side and my camera and sketchbook close in hand while I paint in the studio. As long as I have my garden and my studio this horrific pandemic will not overtake my joy.

Blog no. 13

Tidbits About Jane Louise Holden

On Jane’s Blog I authentically write about real life experiences with loss, suffering and acceptance as a woman artist living with disability. There are times while in my studio I step away from my abstract paintings and turn towards words. My garden often inspires written words in the same way it fuels my paintings, words come to me connecting with thoughts as I sit in quiet peace with my garden.