When a painter goes to work on his art, he operates with the understanding that his medium is fluid and workable for only so long. Every stroke of his brush is made with the understood risk that, once the paint is dried, the paint applied to the canvas is permanent. The form that the painting takes on is, more or less, irreversible.

This status of the painter’s medium brings with it both positives and negatives.
On the one hand, his actions are high-stakes. Each stroke must be made, each color blended, and each layer applied with care for fear of ruining the painting. This, to a degree, also acts to drive the direction of the painting. If a “mistake” is made, this may change the direction of the painting, as the painter is left with the choice of scrapping the whole piece or continuing to work with it, to fit the “mistake” into the piece and make it something intentional.
On the other hand, the painter’s medium gives him some level of security and comfort. He knows that once he has finished his piece and the the paint has dried, he doesn’t need to worry about it changing. The paint dries and it becomes a finished product, not demanding of any more work or attention.

If we are to carry this analogy of artistic creation over to the human experience, we see that our artistic medium (oneself) is simultaneously both very like and unlike the painter’s. Just as in painting, when we apply the brush to our canvas, we leave a mark that remains there to some degree. There is no “undo” button in painting or in life. As such, we are often faced with the same challenge and opportunity that a painter has, to change the direction of the piece continually as both intentional and “mistaken” marks are applied to the canvas. Just as with strokes of the paint brush, choices are made and cannot be undone, and that’s something we just have to roll with.

However, whereas the painter’s brush stroke immediately begins to dry on the canvas, our metaphorical paint never dries. Our art is a constant and experiential endeavor. Whereas the painter can apply the final line and leave his painting, assured that it will not change or morph when he turns his back, our endeavor (life) requires constant work. Our paint always remains fluid and workable. While this means that we can never rest in the comfort and ease of setting aside our paints and brushes and knowing that our masterpiece is done, and can be put up on display to be admired in its permanence, it also means that we have the opportunity to continually change, blend, and morph what our canvas displays. Our material remains workable. Our art is a process, not a product. Our choices are applied and cannot be undone, but what we do with them can be continually reshaped and blended. Every day we have the opportunity to contribute to and change our piece.

So, what are you becoming?

- Preston Sprimont

2/27/17

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  Snatch grip deadlift - 3x8

  
  

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  4 min AMRAP

  
  




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  10 wallballs (20/14)

  
  


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  5 keg/log viper press

  
  




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  Rest 3 mins

  
  


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  For time

  
  




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  Complete the rounds/reps you finished in the AMRAP