Whatever Is Not An Annoying Word

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Whatever Is Not An Annoying Word 
I was trying to come up with a title for this painting, and I wanted to work with the word "whatever". This painting was on my easel during my open house, and at that point, whatever was the only obvious thing I had painted. (See the progress photos later in the post.) I thought of several ideas, like "whatever floats your boat" and "whatever it takes", or maybe just "whatever". But I thought all of those ideas had a slightly sarcastic, irritating quality. 

30" x 40"
Painted with artist quality heavy-body acrylic paint on 1.5” deep gallery wrapped canvas
Edges painted black

So, I googled "phrases using whatever", and I asked my family for ideas. Whatever flips your lid? Whatever you got? Whatever pops your cork? Interestingly, one of the things google showed was that whatever has been chosen as the most annoying word for several years running. (Don't ask me where - I wasn't paying very close attention to that.)

But this painting is about Philippians 4:8 
Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things. THESE whatevers are anything but annoying, though I find it difficult to keep them in mind as I would wish. My thoughts as I painted centered around finding joy and contentment in this day and age by thinking about the right things. The whatevers.

You can see that I started out with a grid composition to express the meaning of this passage of the Bible. True, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, praiseworthy. These are the words I wanted to focus on in the painting and in my thoughts. And as I neared the finishing stages of the work, I found that the painting seemed so happy! And I felt cheerful too. 

On the days when I finish larger paintings, I find myself to be much more content and my stress levels go way down. I think I have always known, at least to a certain extent, that it brings me a level of happiness to finish one, but I have especially noticed it this time around. Maybe because I have been focused on "whatever" - you think? 


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