Lilies and Lace: The Story of a Most Inspirational Walk

"It's due in a week." said the intimidating manager of my art exhibit. I mean, it is important to have all my art there BEFORE my grand opening, but still, does he have to be that mean???

And I was out of ideas. And I mean it. I just couldn't find inspiration. And people would rather see a 2 year olds art gallery then an empty one. AND his would be adorable, cute, etc.

If I didn't get this in, my career would be over. OVER! You know what? Maybe I just need a break. An inspirational break. At this point, I was willing to try anything. I decided on a walk. A breath of fresh air.

So here I was. I stepped along the pebbles, the sand, the sand dollars, the stones, and the shells of the beach. My feet are no doubt getting bruised and scratched from the sharpest of these objects.

"Ahh, that step was definitely softer." I think to myself.

"Wait! That step was SOFTER, funny!" I look down do find a now crushed single white lily. The beach was was the perfect setting for my next painting, and I felt bad about destroying such a beauty, so I decided that that lily would be my subject. It was the creamy white of lace, and just as delicate.

As I set up my easel I thought of what I'd paint. For the first time in my life, I thought I should paint exactly as I had seen it. Such a great example of contrast. A rocky beach against cream white. I painted the waves, the sea, with violet, gray, blues, and greens... yet

half way through a master piece the sky turned gray. Then it started raining. Then pouring. I searched desperately through my pockets in search of something waterproof. My dog's unused poop baggie. Only enough to cover the lily. But it'll work. It has to.

I cried as I tried to pack up against the wind. And then it all stopped. I took off the baggie and there, in there, in the middle of a streaked,smeared, yet beautiful background, was a flawless lily. I stepped back as I let the sunshine dry my soaked, soaked hair, and realised, hey, it's a watercolor.