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"Magic in the Mess", Original Mixed Media Painting by Colorado Artist, Donna L. Martin

"Magic in the Mess"


It's hard to believe that January is already over and another month has begun.  

What a month January was.  My son got married in December and they announced that they are having a baby boy, due to make his appearance the first part of June.  He will be our first Grandson and we are so excited.  At the same time, my Father-in-Law became extremely ill and recently passed away.  It's so hard to believe he is gone.  My husband still feels like he needs to pick up the phone every week and check on him.  My daughter struggles...every day.  She is a single mom raising my granddaughter on her own.  I worry about my aging parents and I wish we lived closer so we could help more.  I constantly wonder what will happen next and how will we get through it.  I thought things would be easier at this stage of life.  

I guess my point is, there always seems to be some mess, some drama going on in life.  This painting evolved through the messes.  It had several "ugly duckling" stages.  I almost wanted to trash it and start all over again - several times.  Just when I thought it was not salvageable, this butterfly started making it's way into the piece.  Almost as if coming out of its cocoon.  It ended up being one of my favorite paintings, one of my favorite "stories".  Isn't that how life is.  Mess upon mess.  We are not sure if we can salvage the pieces and start all over again.  We feel like giving up and throwing in the towel.  We can't see the magic, only all of the messes.  I urge you to keep on and don't give up, even when you feel like there won't ever be anything more.  Even when you feel like there will never be any magic that comes out of the mess.  There's something there, ready to bloom, ready to burst out of the cocoon.  You just need to have the patience and the fortitude to see what happens next.  There is grace, I promise you.  There will be magic, growth, and beauty that comes from the mess.  

This piece is available.  I'd love to hear from you if you have any comments or questions!  My email is:  



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