I Found Peace Painting Walls
By: Midori The Sea
Tags: Meditation, Home, Relaxation, Self, Mindfulness

I Found Peace Painting Walls

Photo by David Pisnoy on Unsplash

A relaxing read for your tea break to ground your overactive mind.

Among the many whites to choose from, I picked one called Dairy Belle.

How did the paint company come up with such a beautiful name? It reminds me of a beautiful green field, with a lonely cattle called Belle, gracefully chewing grass.

Dairy Belle is a creamy white paint with a hint of yellow and brown. I knew it because shops now can mix the paint in front of you. Whatever you choose on the catalogue, the system will know exactly how many drops of other colours to be added to the white paint, give it a shake and you have it.

The beauty of technology.

First coat

I open my freshly mixed Dairy Belle and give it a further mix with a wooden spatula. A trace of yellow paint lingering on the side of the pot swirls into the creamy white, and my pot is ready to go.

I pour some onto the tray and run a sponge roller through it. The roller absorbs the paint quickly and gracefully, longing to start the art project with me.

It’s a piece of wood prank I need to paint and the wood has a reddish teak colour.

I observe the grain on the wood, horizontal lines running from west to east, inviting my roller to begin its first stroke.

Dairy Belle is non-spattable, the lady at the shop told me. But I am still careful, don’t want the paint to smear my top. The paint glided on the wood beautifully. The thin paint still showing a hint of the wood colour underneath.

I run the roller along the grain with joy, it’s a lot of fun. Quickly but thinly, Dairy Belle is all over my wood prank. I announce the first coat is complete.

Waiting

Waiting is always difficult for me.

As I sit on the floor staring at the beautiful wood wall cover with a semi-transparent layer of white paint, many thoughts flood in my head. When I was painting, just a minute ago, my concentration seemed to have built a fence, rejecting any pointless thoughts. I was completely in the present moment.

And now, waiting, the fence is removed.

I still stare at the wall, the dampness of the paint slowly fades. I observe my breathing, perform a brief meditation.

Didn’t the painting activity give me peace? Wasn’t it keeping in the present moment? Hasn’t it removed unnecessary thoughts? Painting is calming, it’s truly as meditation as me sitting down eyes closed.

I smile at this thought, grateful for Dairy Belle. Very soon, spring will come again and I will see green leaves growing. Maybe I will see Belle somewhere in the countryside.

Patience is important when painting. Before one coat is fully dry, gliding more paint on will not add anything but lift the first coat up.

But now, it’s time. The wall becomes matte, I can paint again.

Second coat

It’s beautiful, the creamy qualities of Dairy Belle is fully shown upon applying the second coat. It fills in all the micro-gaps the first coat hasn’t managed to cover.

The thick paint attaches to the wood securely. From now on, they won’t leave each other. This wood prank is now renewed.

Every roll I apply with care, I observe how different force changes the distribution of the paint. I observe how some area doesn’t seem to hold the paint. I have no idea why, but it’s fascinating.

Beginner’s mind.

It’s not my first time painting, but every time, the paint shows new qualities and behaviour that’s unpredictable.

This is the layer that will show to the world going forward, it’s important to get it right. But also fine if I need to add another coat, there’s nothing really irreversible in life.

The smile on my face is natural, the process of painting is quiet. It’s the most peaceful activity when it comes to renovating a home. It’s a silent force in an orchestra, accompanying sawing, drilling and hammering, in the attempt to redecorate a space.

My space is nourished by Dairy Belle. My mind is peaceful and calm. My patience is tested and strengthened.