Trading Words for Colors: My day as a painter instead of an author.
Stepping Away from the Keyboard and Picking Up a Paintbrush.
As an author, I’m used to expressing myself through carefully chosen words, weaving stories and creating worlds with sentences and paragraphs. Today, however, I decided to step away from my usual routine. Instead of drafting my next chapter or fine-tuning dialogue, I found myself drawn to a blank canvas and a set of paints that had been gathering dust in my closet.
The Call of Creativity—A Different Medium
There’s something both exciting and intimidating about staring at an untouched canvas. It reminds me a little of the blank page, but with colors and shapes instead of words and sentences. As I squeezed out vibrant reds, calming blues, and lively yellows onto the palette, I felt a different kind of anticipation. Today wasn’t about crafting the perfect sentence—it was about letting go and seeing where my imagination would take me with each brushstroke.
Letting Go of Perfection
Writing often means revising, editing, and searching for the "right" way to say something. Painting, at least for me, felt more spontaneous. I could blend, layer, and experiment in ways that didn’t require justification or explanation. If I made a mistake, I could paint over it or let it become a new part of the picture. That freedom was refreshing, and it reminded me that creativity isn’t confined to one form.
Unexpected Inspiration
What started as abstract shapes soon became something more—a landscape inspired by a memory, a hint of a story told in color instead of words. I realized that, even when I’m not writing, my storyteller’s mind is always working. Each stroke was like a sentence, building toward a narrative only I could see. The process made me appreciate the different ways we can express ourselves and how stepping out of our comfort zones can spark new ideas.
Returning to Words With New Perspective
By the end of the day, my hands were covered in paint, my canvas was full, and my mind felt both relaxed and recharged. Taking a break from being an author to become a painter, even just for a day, reminded me of the joy of creating for its own sake. Now, as I return to my keyboard, I carry with me a little more color, a little more freedom, and a renewed excitement for whatever story comes next.
If you ever feel stuck or uninspired, I encourage you to try something outside your creative comfort zone. You never know what new perspectives—and bursts of inspiration—might be waiting for you on the other side of the canvas.
