True Essence

Who am I? This is a complex question with a number of different levels and even various accurate answers.

This is something I thought a lot about while I was painting my recent piece entitled “Essence.” We all have our shadowy gate guarding our deepest truest essence. Then we have the more presentable exterior that everyone sees. I do believe a select few within our trusted inner circle are able to disarm us and gain entry past our gates. They are the ones who truly and sincerely know us, our flaws, our quirks, and who we really are at our deepest level.

The definition of essence on the online Oxford dictionary also feels very elusive and complex. It’s explained as "the intrinsic nature or indispensable quality of something, especially something abstract, that determines its character."

For me, I am the glowing blue flowers of creativity. I am the mossy overgrown unkept mess that somehow grows and thrives in the chaos. I am the dark shadows of mistakes and the glimmering light of hope. I am the broken and worn down pieces that hold my gate together. Behind the gate there is an entire life of experiences, love, perspective, and wisdom. I am an entirely flawed yet valuable human being.

Who are you? Have you ever contemplated your unique set of characteristics as an individual? As you ponder this, also try to think about what your essence painting would look like and how it would represent you.