Life’s Lemons
“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”
You’ve heard the expression.
Over the last two weeks, I’ve been sketching and painting lemons as quick studies and warm-ups. As I paint, I’ve been thinking about this saying. Lately, it seems life has been serving a lot of lemons around the world. Just turning on the news, an overwhelming cloud of malaise descends over me, and like so many, I’m trying to find the balance between being informed without being depressed or driven by the media’s information.
Many of us seek distractions or turn off the news. I find that I’m painting more…
Painting doesn’t just distract me from politics, the economy, war, and the assault on the environment. Painting tiny studies brings me back to basics. It grounds me like other daily habits- brushing my teeth, making my bed, washing the dishes. From this I can move forward with a sense of precense and calm. Painting lemons is short, sweet with forgiveness, and familiar. I can pluck some lemons from the dining table and get started. No excuses, no demands, no limitations. When the world has so many excuses, demands, and limitations.
Lemons and one orange on our dining table in one of my husband’s ceramic bowls. This gouache painting ( minus the instagram text) is avaiable for $45 + shipping. Contact me if interested.
A Phrase of Positivity
According to Wikipedia ( my mini modern Britannica, which may not be as reliable) the saying, “make lemons from lemonade” is a phrase of positivity describing a can-do attitude in the face of life’s adversity.
To me, this motto implies that when life only offers sour things, they can be sweetened through a change in thought or action. This fruity phrase has been around since the early 1900’s.
It was used in politics, writings by Dale Carnegie, and even in poetry,
Entitled The Optimist this appeared in a 1940 edition of The Rotarian:
"Life handed him a lemon,
As Life sometimes will do.
His friends looked on in pity,
Assuming he was through.
They came upon him later,
Reclining in the shade
In calm contentment, drinking
A glass of lemonade."(Wikipedia)
A little seltzer and lemon at our local dog-friendly cafe, Mestizo. I gifted them a painting of their dog which is high on the shelves in the background.
Who doesn’t love lemonade in the summer?
Painting lemons is not saving the world. Painting, in general, isn’t about saving the world. Though some part of me aches to be Wonder Woman and Superman. Creating art is not solving the myriad of problems that face us. But the act of creating attaches us to creation itself, rather than destruction. Art can speak to our spirit in the midst of suffering. Making art teaches us skills like patience, diligence, and flexibility that we need (or more to the point, I need) to face life’s challenges. It can help reduce our soul’s suffering- the act and the product. Change our view, show a different way, remind us that we’re not alone, etc.
For me, each small study of a lemon (or any other subject- doesn’t really matter what) is the way I maintain hope, the way I keep making lemonade. I face the lemons of the world, cut them, squeeze them, and use them to make something better in some small way. When I was young, I thought I would do grand things. I would make big recognizable art. Now I’m studying how to paint little lemons as if they were little jewels or prayers.
What do you do that helps you face the lemons of these times?
I’ll post some lemons for sale and some new pieces in September for you. Take a look at my portfolio!