After posting Sabina’s story and image a few months ago, my friend Laurie asked me to paint another Congolese work. But Laurie’s request posed two challenges for me. The first challenge was to paint a watercolor painting. Four years ago, I had tucked away my watercolor paints—partly in frustration with my watercolor work at the time and partly because it was time to expand my art into new areas. I worried that the painting might flop due to a lack of practice.
Secondly, I had made up my mind to retire my Congolese artwork. But with that announcement, Laurie’s challenge came. This posed another dilemma: Would I stick to my plan and keep the work retired? Or would I allow my passion for the Congolese people to be rekindled? In the end, I decided to haul out my watercolors, face my insecurities, and paint.
It was also amazing to discover that the same emotional response to painting the Congolese work back in 2012 was still active. Throughout the entire painting process, my soul bled—through my paint brush onto the canvas—for Congo’s pain. So now I wonder: Is my Congolese work finished?
Instagram @ Pamela Alderman
#paint4healing
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