I recently heard an artist describe his work as "chasing awe".  That felt so familiar to me!  I hope for my paintings to express awe, that feeling of amazement or wonder that we all experience. So I look for it. I look in nature: the edges of water, the fields that change almost daily, flowers and trees.  Sometimes coming across a scene I am nearly overwhelmed with awe at its beauty.  I also get that feeling listening to music: choral, classical, sad country songs, expressive singers. My heart seems to open wider listening to them.  So I chase awe, looking for it, staying hopeful, being ready for it, getting my camera out. Yesterday I stopped three times to take photos on the way to get the oil changed in my car!  Three times I felt that lurch or smile in my throat that signals awe, so I tried to capture it. But I know that it doesn't come from a place or a piece of music or the image I record. It comes from inside me. I just have to get out of my own way, my own thinking, and awe catches up with me.  But I'll still chase it, because I love to!  I'll keep painting it, that feeling of awe, peacefulness, and wonder. And share it with you.