In November 2019, I titled this painting "In the Weather Together".  As I offered my other paintings for sale, I kept this one hanging in my studio all winter simply because I enjoyed the energy it was providing me.  Very often I'll have an inspiration to create a painting or give it a title without having a reason other than I felt compelled or just had a sense about it that felt good to me.  Then, over some time, the meaning becomes more significant to me as did the title of this painting during our pandemic of 2020.

Over 20 years ago I gave presentations where I said, "In order to master illusion in art, you need to be able to see what creates an illusion, such as, shadows, colors and light.  For me, the biggest illusion to master in life is the one where we believe we are separate from one another."  This felt good for me to "say" at the time but I didn't quite grasp the challenge of mastering an illusion I'm "living in" compared to an illusion I'm "looking at".  What I've learned is that it requires realizing nothing happens outside of me that isn't actually me.  I've also learned to appreciate the unique individuality of everyone in life that makes the whole illusion work so well and ultimately makes it pretty fun.

I personally enjoy having all my toes and both my knees and I enjoy that my nose doesn't expect any of them to behave like my nose knows how to behave.  Whether I am a toe or a knee (or Tony!) what ultimately is essential is Essence itself ... or some may say Love.  What's essential to you?