Finding Rest, Renewal, and the Quiet Momentum of My Art

Finding Rest, Renewal, and the Quiet Momentum of My Art

For the past few days, I have been recovering from an inflammation-related emergency room visit, followed by an unexpected cold. Regaining my strength has not been easy, so I have been doing only the minimum necessary work and focusing on rest. I want to recover fully so I can return to painting. Paper that I prepared weeks ago is still sitting quietly on my desk. I miss working on postcard-sized watercolors, which brought me so much joy earlier this year and were loved by many people.

I am also grateful to share good news as an artist. My paintings have been selling well in several local galleries, and it feels as though the value of my work is beginning to rise. Since last year, through a personal project, I have felt a gradual shift—like a fog lifting and revealing a clear landscape. I believe that next year my paintings will show another level of depth, clarity, and growth. For now, I need to recharge, and I am trusting this period of rest to prepare me for the work ahead.

One of my greatest joys comes from my students. Many no longer participate in art competitions simply because I recommend them; instead, they take initiative, create strong work on their own, and bring me updates about their achievements. Moments like these make me deeply proud and remind me why teaching is meaningful. At SchoolNova, I see clear improvement in students who take my class for the second year. Their progress reinforces my belief in the impact of steady, thoughtful guidance. As I close out the year, I am thinking about ways to develop more effective teaching methods for the future.

Artistically, I plan to focus heavily on my koi fish series early next year. These paintings feel spontaneous and dynamic, capturing the joy, movement, and brief flashes of beauty that art brings into our lives. The thought of starting new projects excites me, even after a difficult year personally. In the remaining two months of this year, I want to regain my strength and complete the works I have planned. I also need to move forward with my 2025 calendar project, which will require some revisions even though the theme is already set.

All of these plans make my mind feel full, but my first priority is to restore my health. At this moment, my paintings are hanging in every local gallery I work with, and most of them have already sold. Even the storage area where I keep finished pieces is nearly empty. As an artist, this is a situation I once only dreamed about, and I am thankful to everyone who has supported and believed in my work.
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I will continue to do my best. Rest, renewal, and quiet momentum are carrying me forward into the next season of creation.