WABI SABI

I sit amidst and look around the gentle mess of an assortment of art, surrounded by half-finished paintings, worn brushes, and scraps of paper filled with scribbled thoughts for my journal, I find comfort in remembering Wabi Sabi.

This ancient Japanese philosophy has become my guiding light, illuminating the beauty in the incomplete.

I recall the first time I stumbled upon Wabi Sabi. I was wandering through a local art gallery, and a particular piece caught my eye. It was a simple, rustic tea bowl with a jagged, irregular crack running down its side and a broken handle.

To me, it seemed imperfect, flawed to the bone even. But as I stood there, taking in the subtle nuances of the piece, I began to see its beauty. The crack wasn't a mistake; it was a part of the bowl's history, of its well loved use and a faded look as well–a result of being passed down generations as a sentimental heirloom.

That moment marked the beginning of my journey with Wabi Sabi.

As I embrace Wabi Sabi, I've come to realize that it's not just about aesthetics; it's a way of living. It's about finding beauty in the everyday, in the beaten down and the weathered, in the things that others might overlook. It's about freeing myself of the need for perfection.

In my own creative process, Wabi Sabi has been a liberating force. I've learned to leave things unfinished without guilt, and to celebrate pursuing things without a deadline.

A splatter of paint, a misplaced brushstroke, or a sentence that's not quite right, a story waiting to be continued for a fitting closure– these "flaws" have become the very essence of my art or writing.

As I look around my work table ,I see Wabi Sabi everywhere. The now dilapidated wooden stationery box which was my first buy at a yard sale, the faded rug which was once radiant with a tropical rainforest tapestry, a favourite ceramic mug which now holds my art brushes and markers– each item is imbued with nostalgia and character.

In a world that often values the glossy and the perfect, Wabi Sabi offers a refreshing alternative. It's a reminder that imperfection is not something to be ashamed of; it's something to be celebrated..

Wabi Sabi has taught me to see the world in a new light, to appreciate the beauty that's always been there, waiting to be seen.

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