It takes courage
Mixed Media Monday
Years ago I played on an indoor soccer team: the Okemos Soccer Moms Night Out (OSMNO). We were all raising kids and working full time. Our games were in the winter late at night. Snowy roads. Babysitters, if needed. No one ever wanted to miss. It was our guaranteed laughter for the week.
After games we went out. These women taught me the importance of friendship, laughter and cold beer.
One night we were all talking about our day. Karen, an ICU nurse. Amy, a divorce lawyer. Becky, a pharmacist. Sue, an engineer. And so on. There were hard stories around the table.
Then I spoke up. My day had been truly trying. I’d spent the whole day figuring out the exact blue I needed in a painting.
We all laughed so hard.
Soul Moment
I tell this story because it explains my week. Being an artist reminds me of the writer’s mantra: You have to be willing to kill your darlings.
I’ll tell it in pictures.
I showed Plover Mama to three people. First person said, “Awww…so cute.” Second person said, “Awww….so cute.” Third person said, “Hallmark.” Ugh.
I painted over the background. I love graffiti. I had to be willing to “kill my darlings.” Yet, I don’t really like that phrase. Perhaps instead I buried my treasures. All those words are still there. They are the bones of the painting now.
And then I started again.
What I’m Grateful For
Why am I painting a Mama Plover? They are endangered. They need protection. They nest in the Sleeping Bear Dunes lakeshore. Their protection is caught in politics. I keep thinking about how these little birds migrate all the way to the Caribbean and back. They need a little help. A little love. They are caught in a swirling quagmire.
They are also considered an indicator species. Their health is an indicator of the overall health of the ecosystem. It’s where I live.
As you can see I originally had two babies in the painting. That’s what I usually see when watching plover chicks. They camouflage so well they look like rolling pebbles on the beach.
Yet Plovers normally lay 4 eggs. I asked my birding friend about it. “Two babies met an untimely ending.” I added 2 more babies to the painting.
No unhappy endings in this painting.
Mixed Media Tip
I actually took Mama Plover to the bathtub. Haven’t done that in a long time.
A bathtub?
Yup. Sometimes you just got to take your painting to the bathtub. Grab a toothbrush and scrub away.
It takes courage but you can’t be afraid to kill your darlings.
Happy Monday! Happy beginning of spring? We still have a lot of snow.
With love, gratitude and a heartfelt thanks,
Jessica
“Another word for creativity is courage.” Henri Matisse
P.S. Save the dates
Cultivating Mindfulness Retreat: Combining creativity, meditation and self-care June 5-7, 2026 Crowded Table Orchard Co-facilitated: Jessica Kovan & Kathryn Ibarra Just a few spots left! The guesthouse is full. Happy to recommend places to stay in town. Plein Art Retreat, Sept 18-19, 2026 Crowded Table Orchard Co-facilitated: Jessica Kovan & Mark Mehaffey
Happy to be part of these shows!
We Will Not Whisper The Alluvion, Traverse City, MI March 7 - April 12, 2026 Panel discussion: March 31, 7pm Read the Glen Arbor Sun review 2026: Members Create Glen Arbor Art Center, Glen Arbor, MI March 20 - May 28, 2026 Upcoming Workshop
Planting Seeds: Art Journaling for Eco-Anxiety Glen Arbor Arts Center, Glen Arbor, MI April 20, 2026
You can find my paintings at:
Daily Paintworks online small works gallery
Synchronicity Gallery, Glen Arbor, MI
My Website
Love seeing your process and painting evolution! They change so much. Thanks for sharing!