My Life as Wallpaper Art

"My Life as Wallpaper" Watercolor © 2022 Linnie Aikens Lindsay

When I was very young, my dad used to call my art "wallpaper".

After college I wallpapered a couple of rooms in the home of the singer, Kenny Loggins' with my friend, Priscilla. It was then that I realized that neither my art nor my life was wallpaper, to stand in the background and be ignored, although upon more reflection, like wallpaper, I have always been an observer of life, a quiet backdrop for taking in the world around me, surrounding those dear to me with an unflinching love. Further, if indeed my life were likened to wallpaper, this 9”x12” doodle painting is closer to the truth... chroma-color, circles and cycles within the same, some attempt to follow the rules, stay in my lane, slashed by bright errant lines or color unexpectedly. Love of God, nature, humanity, art, music, gracefulness, math, logic, science, philosophy all thrown together in an ordered and mish-mashed fashion at once. The methodical blended with emotion, precision one with impulsivity. Muddied patches here and there, now seen through the eyes of grace rather than self-recrimination. It's not the kind of wallpaper you'd want on your wall, perhaps, nor wear on your body, because it's messy but it's real...at least,  MY real anyway. 

             Each of us have an important story in the grand story of life.  Here, through this blog, I use my voice, in my own way, through my words and art and a somewhat non-linear hodgepodge of styles and media, each vignette created at different points in my life, childhood to present, as felt right for the telling of each and the story as a whole, for life is like that, and certainly so, my personality as a creative being. They tell the story of history, of process, and journey of an ordinary woman, who struggled to claim her voice as a woman, an artist and writer.  You may find glimpses of yourself in these stories, for many are stories of anybody really.

I am an artist and a writer.  An unknown one, as many, if not most of us are. One day, I will be covered by another or peeled off the wall of time. While I am here, and in my short wake, may I inspire others to pause and appreciate their history, flaws and all, see the beauty around them and in themselves, take risks to be vulnerable and authentic, an encouragement to all of us present and those to come.

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I would love it if you would leave a little comment at the end of each blog that you read too. (Scroll way down to the bottom of the blog post under "Recent Posts" to get to the comment section.). Thank you!! :)

Note: All artwork, stories and observations posted within should be credited to the author, Linnie Aikens Lindsay (unless cited in the post). Permission is required for any use of my words or artwork. Taken from my work, "My Life As Wallpaper Art".