Part 3:
“If it is OK with you?" Colin asked politely. “I'm going to keep doing paint-by-numbers."
“Of course, of course. This is your art."
“You don't think it's wrong?"
“Do what makes you happy. I guess I just wanted you to know the joy of it being your own. If that makes sense."
“Maybe. I'm not sure, I guess."
“You can use any color. On any shape Any time you want."
“But then it won't be right?'
“YOU decide if it's right."
He stopped and put a hand to his chin, grappling with this idea.
“Art is ... doing what you want?" he asked. “Forgoing structure and form for some ... inner impulse?
“That sounds about right, " I smiled.
“And if my inner impulse says to follow the color chart? I can do that?"
“Yes, definitely. You can do that."
Sometimes it's best to let people grasp things in their own time.
On this, I was smart.
Smart as a fox.
“Of course, of course. This is your art."
“You don't think it's wrong?"
“Do what makes you happy. I guess I just wanted you to know the joy of it being your own. If that makes sense."
“Maybe. I'm not sure, I guess."
“You can use any color. On any shape Any time you want."
“But then it won't be right?'
“YOU decide if it's right."
He stopped and put a hand to his chin, grappling with this idea.
“Art is ... doing what you want?" he asked. “Forgoing structure and form for some ... inner impulse?
“That sounds about right, " I smiled.
“And if my inner impulse says to follow the color chart? I can do that?"
“Yes, definitely. You can do that."
Sometimes it's best to let people grasp things in their own time.
On this, I was smart.
Smart as a fox.
“Since I'm just a beginner," Colin told me. “I haven't gotten too ambitious yet."
“No rush. Go at your pace."
“Yes. Still learning my craft. But I aspire to complexity."
“There are levels of complexity in paint by numbers?"
“Buildings. Landmarks. Oceans. Things with lots of detail."
“Well, I can't wait to see how you grow as an artist.
“Me too. Pretty soon I'll be ready for the tough ones."
“There's no limit. Paint everything that intrigues you."
“Art is still mysterious."
“Always.
“But now I'm in the inside of the mystery, not the outside. You know?"
“For someone new to art? I think you're on the right track."
“No rush. Go at your pace."
“Yes. Still learning my craft. But I aspire to complexity."
“There are levels of complexity in paint by numbers?"
“Buildings. Landmarks. Oceans. Things with lots of detail."
“Well, I can't wait to see how you grow as an artist.
“Me too. Pretty soon I'll be ready for the tough ones."
“There's no limit. Paint everything that intrigues you."
“Art is still mysterious."
“Always.
“But now I'm in the inside of the mystery, not the outside. You know?"
“For someone new to art? I think you're on the right track."
Colin's infatuation with his new hobby had taught me some things.
Sometimes it's good to make waves.
But it's best not to tell others how to pursue their art.
All weather is by the numbers.
Charts and graphs and instrument readings.
Predictive models based on data.
Weather is beautiful and inspiring, but the study of it is a science.
Art is something different.
There are no readings or plot points.
I had realized certain truths, and so had Colin.
His outlook had changed.
“Josie! I took your advice. On so many things."
“You have? On what?"
“My paint-by-numbers artwork."
“How so?"
“I'm venturing outside the lines!"
“Wow. That's great, Colin."
“I even bought a calligraphy pen. To make the lines more ... rippling.
“Awesome."
“And then painted it just the way I wanted."
Sometimes it's good to make waves.
But it's best not to tell others how to pursue their art.
All weather is by the numbers.
Charts and graphs and instrument readings.
Predictive models based on data.
Weather is beautiful and inspiring, but the study of it is a science.
Art is something different.
There are no readings or plot points.
I had realized certain truths, and so had Colin.
His outlook had changed.
“Josie! I took your advice. On so many things."
“You have? On what?"
“My paint-by-numbers artwork."
“How so?"
“I'm venturing outside the lines!"
“Wow. That's great, Colin."
“I even bought a calligraphy pen. To make the lines more ... rippling.
“Awesome."
“And then painted it just the way I wanted."
Science, at its heart, carries a spark of art.
And art is a discipline with rules, and styles, and motifs.
Maybe they are two sides of a strange, complicated coin.
This is more involved that I thought!
Because while they are very similar.
They are also quite different.
At least in my scientific, artistic opinion.
A few weeks later, I got a very pleasant surprise.
“Josie! I'm so glad you're here."
“Hi Colin. What's new?"
“I finished my first solo painting! All free hand!"
A canvas sat in the living room, covered by a drop-cloth.
“Colors and shapes. And expression! Just like you said."
“Show me," I said.
“I hope you like it."
"What's it about?"
“It's cats. Playing in a field of flowers. I did the best I could."
“If it came from you? It can't be wrong."
He pulled back the cloth and unveiled the finished piece.
A masterpiece!
“Colin, I love it. Simply amazing."
“Really?"
“It's honest and imperfect and one-of-a-kind."
Just like all good art should be.
And art is a discipline with rules, and styles, and motifs.
Maybe they are two sides of a strange, complicated coin.
This is more involved that I thought!
Because while they are very similar.
They are also quite different.
At least in my scientific, artistic opinion.
A few weeks later, I got a very pleasant surprise.
“Josie! I'm so glad you're here."
“Hi Colin. What's new?"
“I finished my first solo painting! All free hand!"
A canvas sat in the living room, covered by a drop-cloth.
“Colors and shapes. And expression! Just like you said."
“Show me," I said.
“I hope you like it."
"What's it about?"
“It's cats. Playing in a field of flowers. I did the best I could."
“If it came from you? It can't be wrong."
He pulled back the cloth and unveiled the finished piece.
A masterpiece!
“Colin, I love it. Simply amazing."
“Really?"
“It's honest and imperfect and one-of-a-kind."
Just like all good art should be.