I've been feeling a bit guilty that I haven't gotten to easel as much as I wanted this past week. But yesterday as I sat looking at this painting and the very poor reference from which I have to work, I began to notice some significant things that I had missed before. I thought I had them right, but I've been away from the canvas long enough now to begin to see the forest instead of just the trees. It's pretty impossible for me to paint without getting my nose right up there in what I'm doing. But this was a good reminder that it's just as important to not only step back from the canvas at times, but to completely step away from it, leave it alone, let my eyes forget what they've been seeing, so that they can actually see more clearly again. I find this true in relationships as well. Sometimes we get so caught in believing that a person one way that we stop seeing that they are many ways and many things. It's too easy to see people as one dimensional. I want so much for others to understand me and yet sometimes I'm the one who needs to step away from the canvas of our relationship and allow myself to see them more fully, as a whole person, and even through their eyes. When things just don't seem to be going right, step away...