Copyright Bree Bailey, Flickr.com

I now realize why my writing feels a little more sporadic than it has been historically. I’ve been painting. Albeit furniture and walls, I have painted more in the last two weeks than I ever have in my entire life. For perspective, I’ve gone through about ten cans of spray paint and nine gallons of paint. In the last two weeks.

It has been both a learning experience and fun. I haven’t just painted; I’ve created. I’ve picked the perfect color palates, planned the exact designs, researched the tips to make my ideas work, and dabbled in trial-and-error.

The creative process is tough work, whether it is in painting or writing. Creating new things is mental exercise, and just as with physical activity, mental activity requires rest, too. So the reason my writing has felt more like work than play recently is because my mind has been “playing” in the liquid, paint state.

Aaahhhhhhh. Now I get it.

My (large) painting projects are nearing completion this week, in fact. It has been nice stretching my mind in new ways. I don’t think I will stop painting and working on projects any time soon, but slowing down will be nice. I look forward to enjoying the new colors surrounding me while tapping the keyboard.