Initially this canvas was painted in tones of grey. It sat like that in a corner of my studio for 9 years. I really had no idea what to do with it. The colors I mean. I didn’t want to go over the top with color and mess it up. The composition and the values I loved. I kept trying to plan the right color scheme but couldn’t come up with anything I liked. 

 

There was a time in my life when I felt I had no future. I had this terrible feeling I would never have a family or a productive career. Like I was going to spend life alone without meaning. I actually have recurring dreams about that time. They are all black and white and grey, very dismal, and have the old feelings that there is no future for me. When I wake up, everytime I’m thankful that God has given me everyone and everything that gives my life meaning. It’s like I wake up from black and white into color. So no matter what I am going through at the time, it’s not as bad as the black and white prison that I just woke up from.

 

At some point, the color scheme—red rose set off by blue greens just popped into my head. Without any
effort on my part. I just had to wait patiently for God
to give it to me. Just like I had to wait for God to give my life purpose.