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"Less busy, More focus, Less news, More art, Less complaint, More appreciation, Less noise, More peace, Less hate, More love." Robin Sharma tweet May 28, 2016.

"Happy are the painters, for they shall not be lonely. Light and colour, peace and hope, will keep them company to the end, or almost to the end of the day". Winston Churchill 1920 published in the Strand magazine.

So each of these recitations about life written almost 100 years apart are important to the artist. Why do we paint? Are we thinking about peace and hope? Are we focusing on the art to distract us from what's really happening in our lives? Are we trying to improve the world around us or trying to impress? Are we complaining less and being more appreciative, less noisy, less busy, less hateful and more loving, peaceful and focused.

I'm a relative newcomer to art but it has changed the way I see things and hopefully the way I feel and act. Every scene, flower, tree, barn, seascape, boats that I see, I want to paint. I just can't do all that but I see the hues, colours, contrasts, shapes, atmosphere and all the things that make a good painting work. Now I can't do all this but I'd like to and often try. I think it's the anticipation and the trying that makes it all come together. Yes, I see things differently and don't get caught up in all the details that seem to change even as the sun moves across the sky. A good metaphor for life too. Light and Colour , Peace and Hope will keep you company 'til the end of the day.