Thoughts and paintings by Jinnie May

A long time ago I was told by an art instructor that when an individual pushes their creativity to new concepts, many past admirers (Aunt Tillie's) may object saying things like "But I like the way you used to paint." For many years I painted watercolors of European scenes  , loved painting them, won many awards and sold. I still love to paint watercolors just not as frequently. One cold snowy winter I ran out of inspiring things to paint and decided to try an abstract with acrylics. It was so much fun, challenging and allowed the kid in me to come out again. I loved it.

Today I picked up one of my abstracts from a local show and ran into an old acquaintance. My BEST in SHOW abstract painting (below) is titled Enough To Keep The Emperor Awake.     "I don't get it, I don't understand the painting. I don't understand the title, what does that mean?" What happened to your crooked buildings?" She screamed. Clearly she was upset. I  said "You don't have to understand anything, the painting or the title, this is not about things but feelings, not yours but mine." She then said "I am talking to Jinnie aren't I?"

I ended up telling her the painting was brilliant thereby enough to keep the emperor awake. She left probably thinking she stepped onto some foreign planet.

We creatives run into Aunt Tillie's all the time "My first grade grandson could do that". "I hate abstracts , I don't understand them." "Yada, Yada, Yada! (thanks Jerry Seinfeld. ) My advice is to build a tough skin and pity those of our artist friends that are locked in to a style, medium, subject matter for they may never experience the wonderful feeling of freedom and  love that comes with putting your heart on paper , not just rendering a subject and truly not caring what the Aunt Tillies think.

 Enough to Keep The Emperor Awake 2016

 Aunt Tillie's Favorite? 2005 (They are rather crooked aren't they?)