Awareness: Why I Still Begin Every Painting by Sitting Still

I’m reminded of a Norman Rockwell cover I’ve always loved. It shows an artist, head cocked and scratching, sitting before a blank canvas. Papers scatter the floor, brushes rest in a coffee can, and the tension of “what comes next” hangs in the air.

That simple image is a reminder that awareness is the first step in both art and life. It’s the pause before the brush touches canvas, the moment when possibilities open. Rockwell captured it with humor and truth, but to me, it’s also a lesson: beginnings matter.

Three Takeaways about Awareness:

• Pause before you begin. A quiet moment often brings the clarity we need.

• Notice the small details. They’re what give depth and texture to life, just as they do to art.

• Let beginnings matter. The first steps we take often determine the richness of the journey.

I came across a thought recently that struck me deeply: Successful people know what matters, and they don’t waste time worrying about what doesn’t matter. In painting, that means being fully present for the first stroke. In life, it means cherishing what truly counts.

As I celebrate nearly fifty years of painting, I’ve found that the richest moments aren’t always the grand unveilings, but the still, quiet beginnings. Perhaps the same is true for all of us.