The Do Over: Bland to Bold

For our online calligraphy group we were challenged to ‘Do Over’ a piece. Which meant having the choose just one piece to do over. I have shared three photos of this one – the original, the do-over and the do-over matted in the original mat. Here is the text of the quote:

Real Joy comes not from ease or riches or the
praise of men, but from doing something worthwhile.

– Sir Winfred Grendel 1940

So why do this piece over? I have been looking at it on the wall in one of our guest rooms, and thought it was a little bland. I did it many years ago when my skills and tools were very different than what I do today. I thought the bold, red mat deserved lettering that was a bit more vibrant. I utilized a wide brush with black ink, a brush with red ink, and a fine liner to complete the do over. I am please with it and will finish reframing it once I am certain the ink is completely dry.

I liked this challenge because not every piece turns out the way we want. Over time our skills improve, the tools we can access changes, and we gain the courage to go bold! It takes courage and wisdom to know what to keep, what to change, and when to stop. I look forward to seeing this piece back on our guest room wall. And I will be interested to see if any of our regular guests – family and friends – notice the difference.

Let me encourage you to be bold, change something you think needs changing, and then enjoy the success of your changes. Life isn’t about mastering something then keeping it sacred or perfect moving forward. Life is about change – seeing what needs to change, knowing what needs to stay the same, and then having the courage to do it. How boring would our lives be if nothing changed, if we never got a do over, and we were stuck looking at something we know we could make better if we would just take the time. My do over was moving from bland to bold…what will yours be about?