A Pear of Pears

The pear on the left sells for about $5,800 CDN. The pear on the right sells for about 58 cents. I painted the one on the right, and I was not aware of the existence of the pear on the left when I did my little painting. They look similar, but a pear is a pear is a pear.

The pear on the left is oil on canvas and is wonderfully and masterfully painted, while the pear on the right was sketched very quickly with some pencil crayons on a piece of pink cardboard. But somehow there is a little voice deep inside my head that tells me the pear on the right is almost as good as the pear on the left. Maybe not worth $5,800 CDN, but perhaps $5.80.

Lately I have been considering going back to school, studying art and finding out whether or not I can actually be any good. I am always intimidated by talented artists, and then I think, well, what the heck, if they can do it, why can’t I? What is it they have that I don’t have? Well, the only way to find out is to actually do it, right? And there is the conundrum. I am a procrastinator. I procrastinate.

I enjoy the boring, safe little routine of my life, and I find excuses not to push the envelope. My life is on autopilot, and I am comfortable that way. Go to school? Do something different? Change my routine? Whyever would I do that?

So, I have decided 2009 is the year I am going to be daring and do things I have never done before. Maybe quitting my job (gasp) and going back to school might be one of them.

Is there anything you have always wanted to do your entire life, but have been too afraid or intimidated to do? Now’s the time to do it.