Persistence

When I get tired while working, I have a habit of drawing a circle around my body with my hand—a gesture to return me to my center and reawaken my being. It’s how I cultivate persistence, and it’s only once I’ve returned to and revived my center that I can expand my awareness outward again and keep painting.

The raven’s skull represents the strength it takes to return and persist; the red and green symbolize groundedness and self-compassion—as in: I’m tired and that’s okay. We must meet what’s there to carry on. So I paint a perceptible line, I draw an imperceptible circle, and I return to myself.