Redtree Times

Serene Gratitude– At West End Gallery

There is no better excess in the world than the excess of gratitude.

–Jean de La Bruyère

I strongly agree with the sentiment above from the 17th century French philosopher Jean de La Bruyère. There is never enough gratitude in the world. Gratitude is, after all, as Cicero pointed out over 2000 years ago, the parent of all virtues. From it springs generosity and humility, patience and integrity, justice and tolerance. Serenity and peace.

And so much more.

It is expansive.

Gratitude creates space in the world– and in the hearts of those who embrace it– for greater appreciation and understanding.

I am mentioning this today to go along with the new painting at the top from my current West End Gallery exhibit. It is appropriately titled Serene Gratitude and is 36″ by 36″ on canvas. I see peace and serenity in the Red Tree here, as though it is grateful to see the new sunrise and the bounty of the landscape around it. I get a wonderful sense of tranquility and hopefulness from it.

I am talking about gratitude to let you know that I will announce the painting that I will be giving away at this coming Saturday’s Gallery Talk at the West End Gallery in tomorrow’s  blog. It’s a dilly (can’t remember the last time I used the word dilly) so make sure to come back tomorrow.

I have been asked a number of times over the years, especially by other artists, about why I sometimes give away my paintings. It doesn’t make sense to many people.

My rationale has long been that I am owed nothing in this world from anybody. Everything I have has been given to me. I realize that everything– my livelihood and anything achieved by my work– has come about because of the actions of others.

Oh, I create the work. Sure. But if others haven’t responded to it and collected it, hadn’t given their time to come to openings and talks or read this blog, I most likely would not be in this same place right now.

I don’t know that I would even still be in this world.

Everything I have in this world is owed to others. Some I know and love. Some I call friends. And some I barely know or have never met.

I possess an immense amount of gratitude. It might well be my most valuable possession.

So, expressing that gratitude by making a gift of one of my paintings every now and then seems like a small thing indeed. In fact, I feel that I often get more from doing this than the recipients of these paintings have received. I get to see their joy in that moment and that a big thing to me. To make someone else happy is as gratifying a feeling as any I know.

And in that moment, I feel as bit lighter, as though in some way what I owe to others has been paid.

I am debt-free for that single moment. It feels like a moment of grace.

We don’t get many of those in this life.

Believe me when I say that it’s well worth a painting or two.

Tune in tomorrow to find out what painting will be the prize at this year’s Gallery Talk.

The Gallery Talk takes place at the West End Gallery this coming Saturday, August 10, beginning at 11 AM.