I painted five watercolour pieces to demonstrate the wholeness of the human person. I worked with a different process for these paintings, and they revealed something very valuable for me. Usually, I take time for my artwork, deliberately planning out where the lines are going to be sketched and painted and taking time to discern which colours to use. For these creations, I simply painted when I had a hard day, not worrying about crooked lines or imperfect swashes of colour. I had fun with it.
The paintings were raw and unedited, and this made the process very fulfilling. I dedicated some time to working freely, not thinking about making mistakes, allowing the rough work to shine through. In fact, I teach art at different elementary schools, and I regularly remind the students that there are no mistakes in art! So this work is what it is: I didn’t tweak it after my session of creating, and I allowed it to show the beauty and fun in expression and painting. This surprising insight brought me to life as I created the five aspects of our human person.
The wholeness of the human person can be described within the five dimensions of SPICE: (S) spiritual, (P) physical, (I) intellectual, (C) creative, and (E) emotional. Each of these paintings relates to one of these aspects. The human person consists of many wonderful parts that show the depth, privilege, and ingenuity of what it means to be human. When we have all of these aspects working together and in balance, life can feel ordered and right. Obviously, we’ll know when one part is lacking. It is then that we must nurture and take care of that area, for we are called to be alive and to thrive. Enjoy these paintings, and read small commentaries on each one below.
These original paintings were available for sale at Whole Therapy, 2723 Lancaster Rd #105, Ottawa, Ontario. Each piece is 6 by 8 inches framed.
Spiritual: Saint Thérèse’s Rose—SOLD
This painting was inspired by the littleness and smallness of Saint Thérèse. She was a Carmelite nun in the nineteenth century who showed through her spirituality that God is great, merciful, kind, and loving. I learned from her that we can offer our smallness and littleness to God, and He will transform it and do great things for us. Truly, God especially uses our imperfections and weaknesses. Hence, this whole series of SPICE watercolours was inspired by this aspect of God’s love. That is why I kept the imperfect and raw look of each painting. The spiritual component is also the first one listed in SPICE, and I believe it is the most important. Everything flows from our relationship with God. It can take the form of prayer, meditation, almsgiving, liturgy, and fasting.
Physical—Walk In Gatineau Park—SOLD
This painting was inspired by the fall colours in the Gatineau area. I used expressive brush strokes and a composition of the staircases on one particular route (can you guess which one?) to create a vibrant scene. Exercise and taking care of our bodies are very good. The physical part of the human person relates to exercise, eating, sleeping, and labouring. It’s important to take care of ourselves physically, for it’s well said: a strong body, a strong mind, which I further add leads to a strong heart and a strong soul.
Intellectual—Coffee Shop Time—SOLD
This painting was inspired by one of my visits to a Montréal coffee shop. As you can see, the place is empty. I went to this shop during the pandemic, and it’s quite evident that there were restrictions in place. However, I really enjoyed my time alone, for it was rare. I worked for a job that entailed a lot of interpersonal relationships. While I love being with people, I also love writing, reading, and weekly planning, which all relate to the intellectual side of our human person. Coffee shops were a nice and ambient place to take a sip, enjoy encouraging conversations, or get down to productive blogging.
Creative—Grandma’s Sushi—SOLD
This painting was inspired by my Japanese grandmother’s sushi. Gma, as we call her, experienced life in Canada, from the early beginnings of the Second World War to family life. I am a fourth-generation Japanese-Canadian, and while I cannot speak Japanese, I’ve been taught how to make sushi! Making sushi is a tradition, an art, and a way of creative expression. The creative component of the human person can take the form of cooking, art, dance, and music. It can be a hobby or a full-time career. But what I’ve learned, especially in teaching art to young children, is that being creative is inherent to the human person. We have an intellect, will, and capacity to create. It’s good and needed!
Emotional—Willow’s First Kiss—SOLD
The painting was inspired by the first time my mother met her little puppy, Willow. My family suffered trials and tribulations over one particular tough season, and receiving a fluffy bundle of fur was a welcome gift. This artwork represents the healing that a loveable animal can give to our human hearts. Likewise, the emotional part of our humanity can also be filled with good relationships, a phone call from a loved one, counselling, and group therapy. Do what gives you joy, but know that not all things fill the heart and truly satisfy it. We can often tell when a true emotional gift is received by its lasting effects. If we feel joyful and at peace afterwards, we know it’s a good emotional gift. Otherwise, we would be wise to let it go.
