How Beauty Can Heal

I try to live my days mindfully, giving my full attention to each moment, whether it is folding laundry, waiting in line at the pharmacy or standing at my easel painting a glorious flower.  This seems to me to be the best way to honor the privilege of living on this precious planet.

But sometimes it feels as if our modern world conspires against savoring the present moment. No matter how peacefully we begin our days, almost immediately our attention is snagged by a breaking headline about chaos or tragedy. Online, we are bombarded with promises of better health and happiness if we will only click HERE. I have to reset my attention daily (and frequently) and step away from the digital noise and return to presence.

My studio practice creating larger-than-life floral portraits is my greatest mindfulness tool, and I have discovered that Beauty is my greatest healer.

Illumine, Oil on Linen, 24 x 24”

Flowers use their beauty to seduce us. When we allow ourselves to be tempted by Beauty, we stop and truly look. And in that pause, we begin to breathe more slowly and become present to the world around us. When we stop for Beauty, we build our awareness “muscle” and seeing beauty becomes easier. Suddenly, it is everywhere around us and our days are suffused with an infinite capacity for wonder. 

Awaiting Spring, Oil on Linen, 47 x 54”

So, as I paint the voluptuous petals of a rose in full flower, I am paying attention to Beauty. I try to imbue the canvas with all the astonishment I feel in the presence of this flower. Beauty awakens me from the deep sleep of “doing” into the miraculous world of “being,” and I hope that all of my paintings remind those who see them that Beauty can “reset” us and bring our attention back to present moment. Beauty is an antidote to chaos and worry, and it can truly heal our spirits.