YEAR OF THE PAPER GARDEN

This year I turned 40 years old. It felt momentous and scary and also exciting. I read this book called the Paper Garden by Molly Peacock about a woman who began her career as an artist at the age of 72 in the 18th century. Her name was Mary Delaney and she created realistic cut paper flowers, a type of 3D collage that she invented. I was moved by her perseverance and will to create a legacy that was uniquely hers. And Peacock’s storytelling was so beautiful and layered. What struck me the most was when she describes how all of the moments leading up to beginning to create art, was preparation, it was all part of this continuum of the creative process. That even when we are not aware of it, we are weaving together meaning and collecting bits of inspiration to piece together when we are ready to take the leap into the unknown and find out our own legacy that is waiting to come out.