What is it? WHAT is it? What IS IT????

I'm sorry if you stopped to chat today and I was not quite as friendly as usual. We're still mates, right? It's just that you drive me a little crazy sometimes...

'What is it?' She asked...
'Is that a sword?'
'Is she stabbing a child?'
'...no, I'm pretty sure that's a chicken.' (Its NOT.)

I know you are interested and I like that you are interested but pleeeease don't ask me 'What is it?'

First up, it makes me feel like a six year old bringing her crayon drawing home to mum. 'It's lovely, dear! What is it?'

The answer is... This is a partly painted mural that will take another two weeks to complete if the weather stays fine.

'Yeah, but what IS it?'

Well, OK, its kind of landscapey and kind of political BUT I'd rather not say more.

Maybe its hard to understand. It probably doesn't make sense but here are the other reasons...

>Secondly, I don't want to JINX it. (Superstitious?)
>Thirdly, I've just started painting it. Its still evolving. Who KNOWs what it will really be in the end. I don't! That would take all the fun out of painting it. (I have a rough idea.)
>Finally, there is no good reaction to knowing what it is.... let me explain...

POSITIVE
'Oh wow!' You say. 'I can see it all now. It is going to be the best mural ever!' If you already have my unpainted mural in your head then there is no point in me painting it is there?

NEGATIVE
'Oh wow!' You say. 'That sounds terrible. You can't paint that!' Well, guess what? I'm going to paint it anyway but now I'll probably be defensive and insecure about it. Thanks.


AMBIVALENT
'Oh.' That just hurts! I'd prefer you to hate it!


In a couple of weeks, when my mural is all finished, you are welcome to come and ask me if it really is still that incomprehensible to you... 'Abby, what is it? What have you painted? Explain it all to me!'

Just give me a chance to show you first, OK?
HUGS* the artist