Love is…
…wishing you had nerve enough to go over and talk with that little girl with the red hair.
The nerve to do anything at all, that you love or are passionate about. I am now on the fourth week of the Spring Coaching Program with Scotty Russell and I have seen growth in my confidence and the development of my work. I didn’t know what this season in my work would bring me, but I knew at some point I would be creating a Peanuts painting.
These characters have been a big part of my life growing up, Snoopy and Good ol’ Charlie Brown, just to name a few. When I started research for this piece, I knew I wouldn’t have to do much research at all as they are old familiar friends; a part of my childhood. I was torn between two different pieces to create and I still may go and do the second piece but ultimately I chose the one you see here.
Charlie Brown has taught me many things about love growing up. He taught me love is patient. And boy was he patient waiting just to catch a glimpse of that little red haired girl if she passed by.
Love is that one person in a sea of millions but you only see that one. He wasn’t without admirers, to name a few Peppermint Patty and Marcie, had their own crushes on Chuck but all he could ever talk about was that little red haired girl named Heather.
Love can also be a best friend just like Linus but also a dog like Snoopy. That person you can talk about your crush to and won’t judge whatsoever except encourage you to go meet her.
Love is the little things, like taking your dog for a walk or even finally kicking a football. Love is doing something you are passionate about.
So what is love to you?
For me love is my brown eyed, brunette wife and I show my love through the little things like cleaning the house, feeding the dogs etc. I also express my love and my idea of love through my paintings and illustrations.
My painting process is pretty consistent of research as mentioned before, sketching time, and painting time. I like to layer paint over and over to add texture. For this piece I took a different approach . I layered paint with a palette knife until I recreated the image I had sketched out. The texture brought out movement in Snoopy’s dancing and Charlie Brown swooning over seeing the girl of his dreams.
I can imagine the song Woodstock is singing. I imagine it’s mine and my wife’s song. And i think of that moment where I met her for the first time. Our eyes locked in, me smiling with my eyes and not yet uttering a word and rendering all those feelings into my work.
So how do you show love?
Here’s ten ways to live a life through love like Charlie Brown.
Be kind. No matter what, he is one of the kindest souls
Try your hardest. Whether you’re flying a kite, kicking a football, helping a friend, whatever you are doing, be the best that you can be.
Don’t let negative comments affect you. At the end of the day no matter what anyone else said Charlie Brown keeps trying.
Don’t let anyone bring you down. Good grief we’ve all been there. And sometimes Charlie did let someone bring him down but quickly his heart reminded him what was important.
Be yourself. This should speak for itself but don’t cover that head with a brown paper bag.
Never give up. Eventually you too will kick the football, or get a letter from that special crush.
It’s the little things that matter. Always being a great big brother to sally, even in the smallest requests she makes he puts efforts to show her he cares.
Be patient. Good things always come. Just wait and that little red haired girl will be walking by.
Speak it into existence. He told himself he would one day and then came a day where he did gain the courage to talk to that little red haired girl.
Be love. Be passionate like Charlie Brown.
Remember to always show up, whatever you do; big or small, and do it in love. Be the love you wish to see in the world.