And I’ve been thinking a lot about my chosen theme for this collection of paintings. Balance and transformation.
These are two recurring themes/challenges of mine in my life, as well. There is, of course, a constant search for balance between taking care of my home/family and taking care of my creative self, and sometimes things are humming along smoothly and sometimes it feels like nobody wins.
But today I wanted to talk about transformation. More specifically, my transformation into being an artist. (Yes, you could argue that I’ve always been an artist, in some capacity, but I’m talking about when I started calling myself an artist. Cool? Cool.)
And part of that story involves a winged creature known as the luna moth.
In June of 2021, a luna moth flew into my house. I was deep in the throes of discovering and exploring my new identity as an artist, and had recently reread the book “The Alchemist”. In that book, they talk a lot about speaking the language of omens. For me, that moth was an omen. First of all- when this moth flew into the house and looked for someplace to land, it chose a row of rainbow-colored shot glasses, lined up on a counter. It chose to land in the exact correct spot for its coloring- somewhere between yellow and green.
I began to look up the symbolism of luna moths, and really liked what I found. Finding one inside your house can symbolize the inner transformation that’s happening to you as a person, or as a sign that it is time for a change in your life.
Naturally, I took a picture of it and uploaded it to the socials. Which is how I found out that a friend of mine had seen a luna moth earlier the same day. This friend lives in North Carolina. I’d recently returned from a trip to NC, a trip to find myself, a trip where I sort of let myself become an artist, where I taught myself to paint.
“That’s it.” I thought, “It’s an omen. I’m onto something with this painting thing.”
(I mean yes, it’s just a moth, but signs are only signs if you let them be.)
Since that encounter, the luna moth has become a recurring symbol in my artwork.
It represents transformation, growth, and the beauty that can come from change. The process of creating art has been transformative for me as well. It has allowed me to tap into a part of myself that I didn’t even know existed. I’ve discovered new ways of seeing the world and new ways of expressing myself.
The journey hasn’t been without its challenges, of course. There have been moments of self-doubt and uncertainty. But the symbolism of the luna moth has helped me to keep going. It reminds me that transformation can be a beautiful thing, and that the challenges we face along the way are just part of the process.
As I continue to create new artworks, I’m reminded of the importance of balance as well. It’s not just about finding balance between my personal and creative life, but also about finding balance within the art itself. Each painting is a delicate balance of color, shape, and texture. It’s a reminder that sometimes the most beautiful things in life are the result of careful balance and thoughtful transformation.
So if you’re feeling stuck or uncertain about your own creative journey, I encourage you to look for the signs around you. Maybe it’s a moth, maybe it’s something else entirely. But if you’re open to the possibility of transformation, you might be surprised at what you find. And who knows, you might just discover a new part of yourself that you never knew existed.