‘The Tale of Green’
55cm x 75cm

Green paint swirls around the ceramic bowl as Iris carefully stirs.  Her whole body swaying in time with the brush, intense focus on the colour before her transports Iris’s mind, body and soul into an elated almost hypnotic state.  I’m at the sink dampening a sponge, so it’s ready to wipe up any unwanted spillages on the floor and as I turn, she is beaming a smile up at me, this is my chance to talk about her painting, the colours, shapes and patterns.  A pathway to Iris using paper and paints, creating a connection between language and it’s true meaning.  I pause, I hear her voice, her beautiful voice ‘Greeeeen,’ with a smile so big it could fill the room.  It takes all my strength not to just go over and squish her with a huge hug and a thousand kisses, but I fear that would be going over the top and make her feel self conscious.  I compromise with a little celebration and one kiss on her forehead but she gives me a look as if to say I am very busy and still have important work to do so I back off.  After all, there is painting still to be done and within moments the paper that lies across the coffee table is filled with a sea of green.