I Finally Faced My Fear of Painting Koi

For Day 21 of my Art Journal, Robin and I took a walk around the pond at Sholom Park. It seemed that everywhere we looked, and everywhere I pointed the camera, there was a great opportunity to create a painting or a reference photo for a painting. Part of our walk also included a stop on the little platform that is built there where there is a dispenser that sells food to feed the koi fish in the pond.

So, of course, we stopped to watch the koi. A little girl was feeding the koi and Robin also joined in on the fun of feeding them. I knew as I was recording video of the koi that I would be tempted to paint a picture of them in my art journal.

But I was afraid. It seemed to be, perhaps, a painting that I would fail at!

Then I heard an interview with actress Kathy Bates and she quoted a line from the movie, "Dune," which says, ""I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain."

So, I faced my fear of painting koi! One small accomplishment!

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Our mailing address is:
Bathing Nodine Art
P.O. Box 773513
Ocala, FL 34477-3513