I walked up the street from my home and a few blocks over to the Sanctuary Theatre last night. The air was chilly as I stepped up onto the concrete steps of the building that I was about to paint in. I smiled and yelled "SANCTUARY!", in my head. Once inside, I saw that there were only maybe three people there . I scouted the place for familiar faces and found them backstage. I took time to catch up with them and settle in and it wasn't long before everyone began to stream in. Artists from Saint John were as diverse as the arts. After the place filled up with spectators, all of us artists who were competing together were called back stage to get the details and a quick, overall debrief. There was some cute nervous chatter amongst the artists and we all went out to the area that we were to paint in and set up at our stations. The set up is four canvases on easels back to back in a circle, with tables to the left and right for the paints and water to be set on. There were plates with paper towel and a small water pitcher of water with old color stains inside the jug from previous painters . The palette to my right is full of many colors and I know I am going to use my large brush first to lay the ground base. I am not nervous at all. I am quite calm inside, surprisingly. There is a track by Queen playing in the huge room amongst the human chatter and I just want to paint.The room is cathedral shaped, probably to amplify the sound for music and voice projection, as it is a theatre. It is dark except for the light over my head; it is so bright. Spotlights are on all of the artists and their canvases.
The man who is coordinating the Art Battle starts the countdown after a speech about art stuff and details, introductions. We all enjoy our moments of recognition and fame. Some of us wave, some bow and courtesy and some of us wave our hand like a queen and spin for all to see ( that would be me). I pick up my paper towel as the the second countdown commences....3...2..1.. and go. I pick up my brush and look at the colors on the palette that I have chosen. Black, that is perfect to start with. I swirl and swipe and scoop and swipe and swirl. Stroke...stroke...fluffy swirls...new color....sound in my ears...I realize I am smiling, laughing almost. Fat bottom girls is playing on the sound system. My friend comes up from behind me and says, "great job", and walks away. The response I should have said..."isn't it tho". Then the Led Zepplin begins to play, and I am now in complete bliss. It's my first time painting to Zepplin, which just so happens to be my favorite music. I love the orchestra, the intensity and, oh, I just love that voice and the way they play. Once again, my friend sneaks up behind me like an apparition and says "it's beautiful", and I turn to him and say, " I wouldn't know, I can't see it, I am in it". I'm sooooo in it. Painting, to me, is exactly like falling in love. Thirty second warning is given, so I sign the bottom corner of the canvas... 10...9...8..7.........3...2...1 andddd brushes down. We all smile and breath. I give out a few high fives to my fellow competitors and stand back to look at what I have just created in complete amazement. I think " Yeh, I would hang it on my wall". The next few rounds take place and the sea of faces keep smiling at me saying good job, as we all rotate around the round after round of talented and beautiful humans who I had the pleasure of enjoying time with. I smile and say thanks it was fun :)