Yield to the Lemon
Acrylic on cradled Birch panel
8 x 10 inches
Barbara Muir © 2017
Hi Everyone I have to get paintings into a show by
9:30 tomorrow, so I am going to give you an edited post from
2017 tonight that I love.
The Happiness Trick
Is there a trick to happiness? Yes. People have written books
about how. But there is a secret to being happy. We have to
allow it. I heard about this phenomenon called the "Nocebo
response". In medicine it is related to telling a patient that
they will not get better. This message apparently has such
profound effects on the person's mind that she shuts the door
on hope, and may get rapidly worse.
My great happiness magic for today is to talk yourself out of
it. Of the cold you are frightened to get, and will get if you
sneeze and are told it's coming -- watch out. Of the depression
you could get because in this city the sky has been grey except
for one hour for what seems like most of a month. And in
painting of the fear that you can't do it.
Try this. Instead of freaking out about what you can't do,
start with "This is easy!" Just repeat that a few times, and
watch your shoulders quit tightening into a vice grip.
I admit it -- given the number of people who have colds
(COVID) right now -- our chances of getting something are good.
(In the case of COVID, if you have all of your vaccines, and
wear a mask in public you may avoid it.) But apparently,
just believing that the hot lemon I drink might stop it in its tracks
-- could if it's a cold. And as for painting or drawing -- we need to take a look at
how tough things are in the world, and let ourselves know how
lucky we are to be compelled to make something.
Here is my offering for tonight. When we were in New York
in June, 2016, Steven got a T-shirt he loves at the Metropolitan
Museum. It says "Yield to the art," which is what installers
say when they're moving big pieces through the museum.
Hence Yield to the Lemon, because the lemon demanded
center stage.
Have a tricking-yourself-into-happiness day."
about how. But there is a secret to being happy. We have to
allow it. I heard about this phenomenon called the "Nocebo
response". In medicine it is related to telling a patient that
they will not get better. This message apparently has such
profound effects on the person's mind that she shuts the door
on hope, and may get rapidly worse.
My great happiness magic for today is to talk yourself out of
it. Of the cold you are frightened to get, and will get if you
sneeze and are told it's coming -- watch out. Of the depression
you could get because in this city the sky has been grey except
for one hour for what seems like most of a month. And in
painting of the fear that you can't do it.
Try this. Instead of freaking out about what you can't do,
start with "This is easy!" Just repeat that a few times, and
watch your shoulders quit tightening into a vice grip.
I admit it -- given the number of people who have colds
(COVID) right now -- our chances of getting something are good.
(In the case of COVID, if you have all of your vaccines, and
wear a mask in public you may avoid it.) But apparently,
just believing that the hot lemon I drink might stop it in its tracks
-- could if it's a cold. And as for painting or drawing -- we need to take a look at
how tough things are in the world, and let ourselves know how
lucky we are to be compelled to make something.
Here is my offering for tonight. When we were in New York
in June, 2016, Steven got a T-shirt he loves at the Metropolitan
Museum. It says "Yield to the art," which is what installers
say when they're moving big pieces through the museum.
Hence Yield to the Lemon, because the lemon demanded
center stage.
Have a tricking-yourself-into-happiness day."
2 comments:
Beautiful fruit bowl. This is a great post. I am attempting to do a self portrait from life using a mirror. I haven't tried before and stopped myself so many times thinking I couldn't do it. I am trying - so far without any decent results but I will keep going because I can see the way through. I am trying to keep it simple and not get into too much detail so have taken off my glasses! lol
Hi Evelyn,
I love everything you do. "Decent results"? Is that what we're trying for?
I know what you mean, but you're a wonderful artist. I think this is easy is a great approach.
XOXOXOXOXOXO Barbara
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