While my work and life are not always as expected, or even as carefully planned, the beauty revealed is pretty close (& often far superior). I recently chatted with a friend about how we were contemplating our lives' purpose - still and always! Is this a midlife crisis or a whole life question?

The original "Pretty Close" is a fully integrated collage (16" x 20") with an epoxy resin top coat finish. Part of the Mixed Emotions Series, it is a 3-part combination consisting of a painted background on Masonite board, a practice matboard, and red heart cutouts from an original sketch.

Scrap practice board is where I play with surplus paints and almost-empty markers. I nearly destroyed the red hearts panel that I thought was almost complete as it took an unexpected turn. I cut it into sections because there were many parts that I really liked. It was worth it to save the best parts.

I realized these 3 parts could work well together, having similar palettes. Centering the sample matboard on the painted Masonite background, I placed my cut-outs creating a puzzle of sorts. I reworked the puzzle several times.

Different arrangements displayed unique pockets of beauty. Finding a can of spray adhesive in my studio cabinet, I decided to affix the puzzle before determining how to proceed. There wasn't really a perfect placement, any and all would need to be developed before signing my name and claiming it as a finished work of art. So, I claimed "pretty close” as victory! I found the deeper meaning in its title. Letting go of the “perfectly” planned and placed pieces, I found beauty in the imperfection. I gotta let go and celebrate that it's pretty close.