The image and audio I chose to present are enhance and are reflective of what I desire most right now during this extremely hectic time of year: Contentment.
To me contentment is a set of clean paintbrushes, a blank canvas, paint, and the free time to just paint – no interruptions, no outside stress, no thoughts of bills or kindergarten registration or housing market or recession… the list goes on and on.
The paintbrushes are symbolic of not only the literal act of painting, but the possibilities ahead. The unknown of a blank canvas and potential it holds. It’s a reminder to find the creativity in the unknown, that no matter what mess life throws at me, I can adjust and strive to turn it into a work of art.
I came across the image I wanted quickly. At first, I searched “Painter”, but I thought the pictures of actual people painting took away from the symbolism and made it more literal. I instead chose just a picture of the paintbrushes to allow viewers to imagine their own potential art instead of having an image of someone else’s art in front of them.
The song took a little longer to find. I searched words like “Potential” and “Happy”. “Potential” produced songs that were a little too moody, while “Happy” was too bouncy. I wanted something more neutral and peaceful. I think this song is not only beautiful but evokes the emotion of contentment.
Hello Julia!
Your image of the paint brushes makes me really want to go do some painting! The pairing of the audio to the photo is magnificent. Listening to it puts you in the relaxing mindset of painting, nothing heavy… just something light not to disturb you, but to please you and your senses. The pairing compliments each other perfectly.
For me, my contentment is by getting into my game room and turn on some retro video gaming for an evening. Playing Super Nintendo while I have pizza by my side. I like how everyone’s contentment is a little different from person to person.
Hi Julia,
I totally understand what you mean. This year has been a little hectic for us all; having just a little peace to do what you want is much needed. The audio is so relaxing and is excellent for taking a little break. I like the image as it blurs the brushes and adds a little bit of softness and movement. It almost feels as if relaxation is moving in. I also think the audio pairs well with this image because the audio is clean and the brushes are neatly organized and not covered with paint. It’s always great to start an art project with brand-new or at least clean tools!