If life were a painting, most people would only notice the finished piece.
They might admire it, question it, or feel something when they look at it.
But what most people never see is everything that happens behind the canvas.
The thinking.
The doubting.
The messiness.
That’s what I feel right now.
I have this vision of a beautiful painting I want to bring to life. My drawing courses, my future self-portrait program… things I’m excited to share. But the path to creating it hasn’t been as smooth as I imagined.
There have been distractions, uncertainty, and moments where nothing seems to move forward.
Right now, it feels like the painting of my life has stalled, like the image isn’t quite taking shape yet, and there are so many distractions.
Deep down, I know that isn’t true. Paintings take time. They require patience, even stepping away.
And sometimes the most important thing we can do is stay present with what life is giving us.
When Life Asks You to Slow Down
And right now, for me, it’s to focus on my furry baby.
His health has been declining slowly. At first, I thought it was age, the way people often do. But I learned something more serious is happening. His kidneys are failing.
Now my days look a little different.
A new diet.
Learning how to give him IV fluids.
Watching him more closely.
…And giving him more love than ever, because I don’t know how much time we have left together.
The painting of this moment, the one with my furry baby by my side, is still unfolding. And right now, that’s the one I’m choosing to focus on, while the rest will take shape slowly.
The Messy Middle
Life isn’t linear or perfect. Sometimes it’s slower, messier, and uncertain. But maybe that’s exactly what gives the painting its character.
More will come as I learn to focus on my furry baby and the projects I’m excited to share with you. For now, I’m reminded of something I’ve shared with students in the past: Patience.
Teaching drawing fundamentals has been one of the things I’ve kept up through all of this. Lately, my students and I have been working on one-point perspective (above).
It’s always rewarding to see them work through the same struggles I once had. And somehow, every time I teach it, I end up learning something new myself.
Another reminder I’ve learned from Dr. Joe Dispenza is to keep our eyes on the vision of where we’re going, even when the present moment feels uncertain, because after all, we are co-creators of this painting called life.
I’m Claudia, a portrait artist passionate about bringing joy and inspiration through creative expression. I facilitate painting events, coloring workshops, and drawing lessons designed to help you reconnect with yourself, enjoy the creative process, and rediscover the pleasure of making art.
If you’ve been wanting to reconnect with your creativity, you can join my drawing community through the Stan Store link: https://stan.store/marulandaart