Inspiring Creativity
My artwork, an acquaintance recently said, inspired her 67-year-old husband, Ray, to start painting again. Intrigued by her story, I asked her if I could share it. She agreed.
A few days later, she emailed a photo of Ray’s interpretation of my painting, Stillness, and recapped his story as follows:
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Ray was painting in oils when I met him in 1965. He continued to paint into the early 1970’s. Then life just got busy with work and children.
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After Ray’s retirement, we had talked about him painting again. Well, we talked and talked. But it took your painting to inspire him to pick up the paintbrush.
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He saw the article about your exhibition and the photo of your Stillness painting in the Grand Rapids Press. After cutting out the photo, he got out his brushes and paints and went to work. Your work has touched Ray’s heart in a way that I have not seen before.
Ray’s painting of Stillness
Stillness, Pamela Alderman
circa 2009
Ray’s painting inspired me as well. Sometimes I ask myself: Is my artwork making a difference? And I think about all the other things I could be doing.
However, after hearing Ray’s story, I’m motivated to press on despite all the hard work and obstacles. Just as one painting motivated a 67-year-old gentleman to pick up a paintbrush—after 30 years—one encouraging story has given fresh inspiration to my creativity.
