I’ve been taking a class in watercolor painting, and I find it challenging. This morning I went to yoga at my friend’s house. She does a private session with a sound bath meditation at the end. During the meditation shavasana, I had a vision of billowing waves of an ocean. I wanted to capture the vision in a watercolor, but I’m not brave enough yet to paint without help. I used a YouTube video to produce the image for my poem today.
The ocean is interesting, but the sailboats…well…ew. I accidentally dribbled some blue, and one thing my instructor said about accidental spots really helped me. He said, “Make them into birds.”
My poem wanted to be a shadorma form. (3, 5, 3, 3, 7, 5)
Waves of sound
surround in seaflow
billow sails
simply free
Meditation comes to me—
whispers of owl wings.Margaret Simon, draft
For Mother’s Day, my daughter gave me a beautiful oracle deck. The card I picked today was the owl “Wisdom”.
What is inspiring you these days?
Reflections on the Teche 
Margaret, I love how the meditation shavasana brought you from billowed sails to whispered owl wings — perhaps that quiet peace that comes as a gift we don’t expect… Your watercolor is both beautiful and brave!
What I’m loving about both watercolor and knitting is being a beginner again. I’m trying to embrace the learning and the process.
“Waves of sound” is such a lovely way to enter the poem. After reading your reflection, I feel like I was in the sound bath too. It’s nice for me on a Friday evening after a long week. The world needs more moments of meditation. Keep at the water color! Your sailboats are better than ew. LOL.
Ohhh, I am learning watercolor too, Margaret. I haven’t tried a seascape yet. I think you did really well! I also use You Tube videos for guidance from a couple of artists I like, as well as a book. I’ve found I like the sketching best (before the paint). I will have to try the poem form you shared. I like working with syllables.
I love “whispers of owl wings”. Your watercolor is calming and peaceful and yay to embracing the mistakes. It’s humbling to learn something new. I started knitting and find myself often buried in You Tube videos.
“seaflow” – mmmmmmm. Good for you, embracing new artistic endeavors! Watercolor can definitely be challenging. You seem to be a quick study, though! Also, what a lovely gift from your daughter. :0)
I love how you’re diving into a new creative endeavor and then combining it with your writing. I admire your learner’s stance and am quite impressed with your watercolor. Go, you!
Margaret, so nice to see your watercolor! I think it’s beautiful and love that accidental spots can become birds:) I think I mentioned I’ve struggled with watercolor too. Love: billow sails, simply free, for me it encompassed the spirit of your lovely painting and poem!
I see a resemblance in the colors and puddly feel of the Owl card and your painting–surely some synergy! The simple flip of “billow sails” adds something incantatory to the poem–love!
Margaret, I sailed away into the ocean as I stared at your artwork and read your poem. “Waves of sound
surround in seaflow…” I would love to learn to paint. The birds add a touch of peace as they float above.
Your instructor reminds me of Bob Ross – there are no mistakes, just happy accidents!