We have lost one of the most beautiful and talented women of our time….Maya Angelou Her grace with words told touching stories that will never be forgotten.
Her beauty entered our lives when her book “ I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” was published.
Because of her rise to fame we tend to forget and push aside the hard times of abuse, racial slurs, and discrimination. Growing up a black woman was doubly hard but she, like Helen Keller, had something extra in their mental constitution.
They created their reality!
I saw Maya in the Atlanta airport several years ago. We were both sitting waiting for our plane. Our eyes met, I nodded, she nodded. We acknowledged each other without words and her lips formed the words….thank you. She, like me, was tired and was hoping to go unnoticed. Our smile from sister to sister was enough.
Maya was an artist in many fields but her love was poetry and sharing her life in the form of storytelling.
Maya was authentic and that was why we loved her so much.
Our love as artists is creating paintings that are intriguing and compelling….some are done in a simple way and some more complicated. Our paintings become richer when we are willing to open up and share our deep feelings. I call this releasing our history.
The real challenge as artists is to look at our history, our life and realize its importance. Allow this glorious life of yours to enrich each painting because your paintings reflect your life.
For those of you who think you are not gifted enough, not special enough, don’t know enough here is one of her quotes that I love.
Find a beautiful piece of art.
If you fall in love with Van Gogh or Matisse or John Oliver Killens
or if you fall in love with the music of Coltrane, the music of Aretha Franklin, or the music of Chopin…
find some beautiful art and admire it,
and realize that was created by
human beings just like you,
no more human, no less.
love and hugs,
gwen@gwenfox.com
professional artist, teacher, mentor and speaker
