This summer I returned to the Willamette Valley Lavender Festival for their plein air event. As a studio painter, stepping into the fields is always a challenge, and this year it was especially hard. My family had been navigating a difficult chapter, and I didn't have much left to give. I finished three pieces I didn't feel great about and almost withdrew, but I submitted them anyway.
When I returned to pick up the paintings feeling dejected and foolish for entering the show this year, an older woman lingered in front of my work. She asked if I was the artist and shared how much the pieces spoke to her. Not having sold any of my work, I offered her one of the paintings on the spot, and she was deeply grateful. That moment reminded me why we keep creating, even when it feels like we have nothing left.
