#64 - Reflections

As an artist and photographer, I take in a lot when I look at the world around me.  The colors, textures, depths, movement or lack of all play a part in creating a scene, a picture that will live on in my mind even if I don't capture it for others to see.  One thing I love about art and photography is it allows me to share what I see with others, to allow them to feel it too, even if they feel it differently than I did.  That is the beauty about art.  Each person is able to take away something different, to see it in a different way, to experience it and feel it in a way that is unique to them.

For example, let's talk about abstract art.  Many see abstract art as beautiful expressions of emotion yet others see them as odd and lacking.  There is no right or wrong way to see art, it is all in how the viewer sees it.  As a painter, I find myself torn between the two worlds of abstract and realism.  I love when I create a painting of something so life-like it looks more like a photo than a painting yet I also love being able to create something of beauty that has no reference in real life or is a representation of something I have felt or seen or the combination of both.  These feelings are what makes an abstract for me.  Being able to share that with others is exciting.  Even more than sharing, I love to hear their thoughts and feelings, their raw opinion when they do not know I am the artist or that I am listening.  If they 'feel' anything, my job as an artist is done.  That is what it means to me to be an artist.

Reflections are one of my absolute favorite things to photograph and paint.  I find that reflections show only a portion of what is really there.  Just as when you look in the mirror you only see what the mirror is able to show you.  You do not see what is behind, what is just off to the side, or what is inside, just the top layer in reverse.  What gives them mystery is in what you cannot see.  Even more appealing to me is when I purposely capture a reflection that most completely ignore like a simple reflection in a puddle of water.  That little thing that most overlook can hold such beauty.  Even a pothole, something we hate because it causes an unexpected jolt in our routine can hold beauty if you just take a moment to look.  Watch for the reflections of life and take hold of the beauty and keep it within.  It will open you up to so much more the world has to offer.  Remember, while it is only showing the surface, that is a great place to start to see what is beautiful inside.

Allow yourself to take in the beauty the world has to offer and use it to brighten up any moment.