White Lily

Today I went to Classic Framers, a picture and frame store that is closing, to buy a mat for my new frame. While the friendly and helpful woman (whom I am assuming is the store owner) was assembling my picture frame, I walked to the left side of the store to view the works of art on display. One captured my attention almost immediately.

The flower on the water seemed to rise off the canvas like a picture in a pop-up book. I greatly appreciate this skill that some artists have. I actually had to study it for a while to realize it indeed was not protruding from the surface. The entire work was rich in color and lighting.

I can't get over how real it seemed.

I continued on, studying some other pictures and looking for the story behind them. This one picture was of a woman dressed in an old-fashioned dress and a brimmed hat outside among flowers and shrubs on a hillside. She was looking down with an almost disturbing expression on her face. She didn't look happy like I expected. This may sound crazy, but I felt sorry that she didn't have a beautiful smile but rather a look of disgust or dissatisfaction; I know she'd be beautiful if she was smiling.

I gazed at other pictures, but my eyes kept returning to the white lily. It stood out among the rest, like it demanded attention. It seemed to capture something I see in myself. It made me feel genuine and vulnerable.

The credit of this fine and touching work of art, White Lily, belongs to Tim Gray. It is for sale at Classic Framers for $185.