
Today’s prompt is …brush.” Use it as a noun, a verb, or an idiom. Have fun!
“Brushstrokes” keeps coming to me. Oh there’s brushing my hair, brushing the dog, don’t brush too much under the rug, or you’ll trip over it…. I could brush up on my yoga and do more than just stretch and warrior poses…..
But brushstrokes keep coming back to me. I like painting whether it’s painting a wall, a painting, or a cabinet. Just one cabinet, not all of them. Did that years ago. I’d rather paint a painting.
Sometimes, I’ll plan something I’m going to paint in great detail and then it turns out differently. So, I’ve learned to go with the flow. Just start with a general idea and see what happens. It’s not easy for me to do that until I get in the zone. It’s good to have a clear idea of what you want, but even though God listens, God might have something even better in mind.
I wonder if God, our Creator, knew exactly what she or he or both, whoever, whatever – God – wanted to create in the beginning. Was there an outline? A blueprint? I don’t think so. I bet creating earth and fish, trees, animals, and human beings was more organic, like a great experiment, flowing from one adventure to the next.
Does God ever wish there had been a blueprint? Does God shake her head and think, maybe that free will business wasn’t such a good idea after all?
But here we are with our free will. Making messes that hopefully we can fix. I don’t know. I think I’d rather paint. Brush strokes, or dabbing like Bob Ross. He used brushes in different ways. I’ve been meaning to watch one of his videos just for fun. Maybe I can find one now! If I do this in a real SoCS way, I might pick one at random.
I have a plan to paint a bridge, so that’s the one I picked. I have not always been a big fan of Bob Ross, but my how relaxing it is to watch him. It’s an ASMR thing. Can I remember what that stands for? Autonomic Sensory Meridian Response. Soft, repetitive… I could get hooked…..
Watching Bob, I’m all relaxed now. Forgot what I was writing about. Seems like I remember reading Bob Ross was in the military before he became a sweet, painter. I bet he had another side, cause we ALL do.
Here’s the photo of the idea I have for a painting.


Except I’m going to make it one of those stone bridges with an arch. But who knows….. Anything is possible.
Thanks for letting me ramble around getting ready to paint. It’s actually a little scary, because I have a BIG canvas for this one, and I’m not used to painting on a big canvas. I have to get psyched up for it. Bob will help. I’m going to start before the end of the year. I’ve already done a very simple sketch. One step at a time.
I have a lot of art on my Redbubble page if you’re interested. 🙂 If you go there, you’ll see my artist name which is also my married name. My author name is my maiden name. Shhhh. Don’t tell anyone.
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For more brushes with the Stream of Consciousness, visit our host, Linda Hill at:
Here are the rules:
Here are the rules:
1. Your post must be stream of consciousness writing, meaning no editing (typos can be fixed), and minimal planning on what you’re going to write.
2. Your post can be as long or as short as you want it to be. One sentence – one thousand words. Fact, fiction, poetry – it doesn’t matter. Just let the words carry you along until you’re ready to stop.
3. I will post the prompt here on my blog every Friday, along with a reminder for you to join in. The prompt will be one random thing, but it will not be a subject. For instance, I will not say “Write about dogs”; the prompt will be more like, “Make your first sentence a question,” “Begin with the word ‘The,’” or will simply be a single word to get you started.
4. Ping back! It’s important, so that I and other people can come and read your post! For example, in your post you can write “This post is part of SoCS:” and then copy and paste the URL found in your address bar at the top of this post into yours. Your link will show up in my comments for everyone to see. The most recent pingbacks will be found at the top. NOTE: Pingbacks only work from WordPress sites. If you’re self-hosted or are participating from another host, such as Blogger, please leave a link to your post in the comments below.
5. Read at least one other person’s blog who has linked back their post. Even better, read all of them! If you’re the first person to link back, you can check back later or go to the previous week by following my category, “Stream of Consciousness Saturday,” which you’ll find below the “Like” button on my post.
6. Copy and paste the rules (if you’d like to) in your post. The more people who join in, the more new bloggers you’ll meet and the bigger your community will get!
7. As a suggestion, tag your post “SoCS” and/or “#SoCS” for more exposure and more views.
8. Have fun!
August 22, 2020 at 9:39 am
I remember an art teacher our daughter had when she was young telling her that making a better scene than the one in the photo was the benefit of being an artist. I like the stone bridge idea.
August 22, 2020 at 10:38 am
Mmmmm. Thanks, Dan. I like that teaching! Imagination can be a wonderful thing.
August 22, 2020 at 10:06 am
Even though I’m not talented in the “painting a picture” area, I used to love watching Bob Ross – probably because of the ASMR thing and because he made me smile with his happy little trees and happy little sun.
I’m sure you’ll do just fine painting on the big canvas, JoAnna. How can you not when you are reflecting God’s beautiful handiwork?
August 22, 2020 at 11:36 am
Bob Ross had a unique combination of painting skill and comforting manner, instinct and insight….. Thank you for the encouragement, Mary!
August 22, 2020 at 10:09 am
This is the third time Bob Ross has come up for me this week! Strange!
August 22, 2020 at 11:42 am
Yep. That’s strange. And interesting. Maybe there’s some painting in your future.
August 22, 2020 at 11:41 am
I hope we get to see the painting
August 22, 2020 at 12:08 pm
Thank you, Derrick. It might be a while, but maybe I’ll share it in stages of development.
August 22, 2020 at 12:24 pm
Your mind took your fingers on an interested path. Resulted in pleasurable reading for me.
August 22, 2020 at 6:54 pm
I’m very glad you enjoyed it!
August 22, 2020 at 12:49 pm
Do you remember Bill Alexander, the German guy who had a show called “The Magic Of Oil Painting”? I think he preceded Bob Ross., or maybe they were on concurrently. Where Bob was really laid back and ethereal, Bill was effusive and rambunctious.
Looks like a great idea for a painting.
August 22, 2020 at 7:22 pm
I don’t remember Bill. I just looked him up. He was relaxing, too in the video I watched for a bit.
August 22, 2020 at 8:08 pm
He was interesting. he’d be going along quietly then get all cranked up…
August 22, 2020 at 8:35 pm
🙂
August 22, 2020 at 1:09 pm
Great painting, the interpretation is better than photo. Hope you’re doing well.
August 22, 2020 at 7:57 pm
Thanks, Melinda. I am doing well and hope you are, too.
August 23, 2020 at 7:35 am
I had no idea you were such a painter! For some reason I thought you were ust starting out. It must be my memeory, it’s slipping. 🙂
August 23, 2020 at 4:36 pm
I painted a lot when I was younger – in high school and off and on through my life, especially after my divorce. Since I retired in 2017, I’ve been painting more regularly, so in some ways, it’s like starting again, and also like coming home.
August 22, 2020 at 2:09 pm
I like the way our subconscious mind works, going where it must from brush to brushstroke–the vision of the artist brought to light with each brushstroke. All the best with your art project 🙂
August 22, 2020 at 8:10 pm
SoCS has a way of uncovering things we need to address, though sometimes it’s just being silly. I have many ideas for art projects. But now this one is firmer. Thank you, Rosaliene.
August 23, 2020 at 2:12 pm
🙂
August 22, 2020 at 5:01 pm
I definitely have thoughts on this!!!!!!
Gorgeous pictures.
August 22, 2020 at 8:12 pm
Thanks, Eliza. We never run out of thoughts, do we? Though sometimes it’s good to watch what happens. 🙂 Feel free to share your thoughts.
August 23, 2020 at 7:03 am
Hmm. It was on infinity and free will. If you’re interested, sure! Will just reread to remind myself.
August 22, 2020 at 7:16 pm
Ah, the dulcet tones of Bob Ross…I’ve always found him soothing. I love your idea for a painting! Gorgeous.
August 22, 2020 at 8:35 pm
Thanks, Laura!
August 23, 2020 at 4:23 am
Oh! I wish I was good at painting. Do show us you finished article . Be well and safe 💜💜
August 23, 2020 at 4:22 pm
Thanks, Willow. I bet you could have fun painting some abstract pieces. Just let yourself go if you feel like it. You be well and safe, too!
August 23, 2020 at 6:20 pm
Thank you JoAnna I might just have a try💜
August 26, 2020 at 7:10 am
K, so it was on this post, about a blueprint. This may be a bit of a ramble, either read or don’t.
My understanding of what you term god is what I term source or infinity. (The world is finite so there must be infinity somewhere). Everything in the finite world is a reflection in some way of the infinite. As in a part of. Nothing can exist in the finite that isn’t part of the infinite. An analogy would be colours, light. Everything is really white light, when you put it through a prism or break it down you get white light. By the way I’m sure I’ve written this on my blog once. I wonder. So is there a blueprint? Yes and no. Because everything in the finite world tells us something about the infinite. In infinity there is no time. No before or after. It’s all unity. So there is sort of a blueprint – what is infinity, so what is the world. There isn’t a blueprint as such because it’s automatically there….
Free will is then giving us existence on our own. Separate. Although we’re axiomatically a part of the source, we have our own consciousness that exists as an entity on its own.
Wondering if I’ve explained what I mean or not. If I have then either you’ll agree, or you won’t. Gonna check my blog if I wrote any of this.
August 26, 2020 at 3:39 pm
Your thoughts are intriguing and fascinating. I want to read this a few more times to process further. I do love the idea that everything in the finite world is a refection of and tells us something about the infinite. I like the color analogy. We see and name certain colors, but I imagine there are many more colors than what we routinely see. Your insight and ability to see beyond the finite are strengths.
August 26, 2020 at 5:31 pm
I wrote more about it in my journey through Judaism posts. Or along those lines. There are lotsa books and lectures you’d like if you’re interested. What I found interesting was listening to later lectures in series and hearing the guy say exactly what I had written based upon previous stuff. It kinda all continues on.
August 26, 2020 at 10:26 pm
I might be interested in an article or lecture. It’s wonderful to read your perspectives on these topics.
August 27, 2020 at 5:02 pm
If you’re ever interested you can look up articles by Gerald Schroeder and Aryeh Kaplan. Probably on aish.com. I listened to Yitzchak Berkowitz Jewish philosophy 101. He has a series on aish audio.
I wrote some thoughts here but I don’t remember what any says or if it’s at all interesting https://elizajourneythroughlife.home.blog/category/journey-through-what-i-believe/
August 27, 2020 at 10:27 pm
Thank you! I’ll save this for later.