W C Douglas' Notebook

 

Refuge from the Noise 

In my studio world, where headlines scream crisis and social feeds amplify outrage, I've found unexpected solace at the end of my paintbrush. When political and economic chaos threatens to overwhelm, creating art offers a radical alternative to the cycle of digital rage.

There's something transformative about mixing colors and watching them blend across the canvas. The very act forces presence—my breathing slows, my shoulders drop, and the world's problems remain essential but not all-consuming for those moments. Painting for me doesn't deny reality; it creates a necessary pause to process it.  I hope your hobby does that for you!

Social media platforms designed to amplify our strongest emotions can be reimagined as galleries for sharing moments of creation rather than destruction. When I post a landscape or still life instead of a reaction to the day's frustrations, something shifts in my online relationships. Friends respond with their own creative endeavors or gentle observations rather than escalating tensions.

The irony isn't lost on me that my Facebook rants—however justified they might feel—only reach those already in my circle. What purpose does this echo chamber of anger serve? Creating and sharing art opens different conversations, reminds us of beauty's persistence even in difficult times, and connects us through appreciation rather than shared outrage.

Perhaps the most powerful aspect of painting during turbulent times is the reminder that we can still create something pleasing in an unpleasant world. This small act of rebellion—choosing creation over consumption, calm over chaos—ripples outward in ways our angry posts never could.  

Go do something fun and refreshing, and tell us about it!!

wcd  

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