The Purple Crocus was a different kind of challenge. Most Crocus pictures are taken from their side so you can see their cup-like shape. But this was a tight cluster of flowers and Mike got this beautiful shot straight down on them. I used them as a chance to sketch and not trace their outlines. I mixed the colors and loved painting these blooms. When I was close to finished, I wasn’t quite satisfied. I loved the composition and the colors, but something was ‘off’. Mike thought so too. We compared it to the photo, and it was true enough to that. Then it dawned on us what the problem was. Because it looked straight down on the flowers it was not possible to show the cup shape. But I like it as a fresh, pretty illustration, even with or because of its limitations.
My thoughts on this relate to how we see our challenges. Maybe we just need to step back and see it from a different perspective. Seen that way, maybe it can be pleasing in a different way. I see ‘tragedy’ in the lives of a couple people close to me. But when we step back from the shock of these circumstances, we can see the ‘beauty’ of what God is doing. We see new relationships, the strength given by the prayers of many, release of burdens carried for a long time now shared with others, and God’s great comfort. Let’s look for new perspectives.