Art Therapy on Orr's Island

Mackerel Cove, Orr's Island

Last week I participated in a four-day plein air painting workshop on Orr's Island in Maine. It was a wonderful experience from the gentle encouragement of our instructor, Marjorie Glick (check out her amazing watercolor paintings at marjorieglick.com), to the perfect weather, to the inspiring landscapes and breathtaking seascapes, to the talented and supportive company, to the graciousness of our hosts, and to the deliciousness of the macrobiotic meals (expect for the succulent soft-shell lobsters we had one night!). I enjoy plein air painting (painting outdoors) and it was a treat to have four whole days to do what I love to do. It was food for the soul.

One afternoon, I was taking a rest on a blanket in the grass. I was close enough to the ocean to hear the sound of the surf. I felt the warmth of the sun on my skin and the gentle breeze in my hair. I heard the wind in the trees and the calls of the crows mixed with the sound of the sea. As I was drinking it all in, I remembered a quote from the Talumd (a collection of rabbi's commentaries on the Five Books of Moses):

Every blade of grass his its angel that bends over it and whispers, "Grow, grow."
                                     ~The Talmud

I realized that I was the blade of grass and the whole experience of being in that awe-inspiring place with other artistic souls creating beautiful paintings was whispering to my soul and helping me to grow.

My watercolor of Alison's Beach

I must admit that I had some concerns regarding my health and being able to fully participate in the workshop. First of all, four days of intensive creative work out in the elements could really flare up my fibromyalgia. I emailed the instructor ahead of time and explained my situation. Marjorie was very understanding and assured me that I could take things at my own pace. During the workshop, she periodically checked in on me and made sure I was getting enough rest. Second of all, I was worried that I would be too tired to drive home after four days of painting. Originally I was going to stay an extra night to rest up before the three hour drive, but my daughter unexpectedly came home from camp with mono, and I needed to get home as soon as the workshop ended. Luckily, I had another workshop student with me in the car who helped me navigate and kept me awake with lively conversation.

Most importantly, I was worried about my lack of creative drive. Since dealing with the extraordinary health issues of the last two years - which I've chronicled in this blog - my creative drive has been in deep hibernation. Characters who had once urged me to write down their stories had gone silent. The desire to draw new illustrations was non-existent. While my physical body had mostly recovered, my emotional body and spiritual body were still wounded and in need of healing. When I thought about the workshop, I was worried that I would be a feast with no appetite! I'm happy to report that I ate my fill at the feast - literally and figuratively - and felt nourished by the renewed connection with my creative side. Now that I'm back home, I don't know if the creative juices will continue to flow. In any case, I'm reassured that they are not completely dried up and that the creative well will be there to draw from when I'm ready.

Sunset over Beal's Cove, Orr's Island

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