New Day Dawning

New Day Dawning
© 2023 Ruth Borges

I posted this painting on Instagram a couple of years ago. The caption read: “Happy how this 8”x8” turned out!! When I first started, there was no red at all. After letting it sit for a bit I added some reds and pinks, went too far, adjusted a few spots, now it’s just right. The splash of yellow at the top hinting a sunrise makes me think of new beginnings.” I titled it “New Day Dawning”. I had worked on this painting for a few days. It kept morphing over and over. Then in a moment, with just a few brushstrokes, the morphing wrestling match gave way to peace and stillness. And I'm thinking "wow, how did that happen?!" I could never replicate any of it. 

The process of combining intuitive and intentional art making is much like a tug of war at times. I may really like the sense of spontaneity in some sections, but others appear rigid or blah, like they don't belong in the same picture plane at all. At this stage things can morph messy. I don't realize it but I'll start forcing a solution. Soon, I'm spinning my wheels. I finally accept that I better take a break or the painting will! Yet, I look at one of my tubes of paint thinking "maybe if I use this one". I hear one my brushes cry out “no, not that color again!” The palette knife leans away as if saying “don’t look at me!” The containers plead “can we get some fresh water here?” They're tired and so am I, so I just take a deep breath and… try to walk away. Ha-ha, really?! I say to myself  “But I’m almost done, just need to work on that section a little more. It’ll just take a couple of minutes”. I turn around, reach for my reluctant paint brush, and the phone rings. A friend I haven’t heard from in months calls to check in and catch up. As I'm walking away, the small 8” x 8” painting breathes out a huge sigh of relief. Thankfully, instead of projecting imaginary voices onto my art materials I opt for the real voice on my cell phone and enjoy a much needed break with a dear friend. And I breathe out a huge sigh of relief.

As I revisit this painting, "New Day Dawning" is speaking to me of a new season. It's the beginning of November as I'm writing this. The year is almost over. Time seems to fast forward during the holidays as we get busy preparing, planning, shopping, decorating, and so on. Before deep diving into that season, I think about 2026. What will the new year bring? For a moment, it feels like staring at a blank canvas before starting a new painting. I never know what the piece will finally look like. A mix of hopes and dreams, doubts and fears begin to stir. And that's my cue to reach into the treasures of scripture:

Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him. He shall direct your paths. 

- Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)

And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good for those who are called according to His purpose.

- Romans 8:28 (ESV)

Like Corrie Ten Boom, I too can trust an unknown future to a known God.