17th October 2025 Beena
I posted a watercolour painting of a zebra this morning. I felt great satisfaction when I finished painting, though I’m not exactly sure why. Nyuk sent me a photo during her recent trip to South Africa. The zebra isn’t an exact copy, but I think the grass appears more vibrant and lively.
One intriguing question about zebras is their colouring: is the body white with black stripes or the other way around? I discussed this in a story about zebras on www.1000storiestogether.fun. My first attempt at drawing a zebra was based on a photo that Amal sent me from Kenya.
Drawing a zebra, or any animal, isn’t easy. But when I saw the photos Nyuk sent me, I felt inspired to try. I’m grateful for that inspiration, as it resulted in a finished piece that brought a quiet calmness I can’t quite explain. It wasn’t loud excitement or a scream of joy, but a deep and profound sense of satisfaction.
I’m curious to know if any of you have ever felt that quiet, inner joy. If you have, I would love to hear about those moments. Please share them with me. Nyuk, thanks for the photos. I will try to paint more.
2 thoughts on “Quiet Joy”
Zebras….black on white or white on black…the cup half full or half empty….life’s curiosities and how one looks at it…
Yes Suzie,
We cant have only 1, its the existence if both that creates that contrasts in our lives. Black and white, dark and light, rich and poor, it keeps going on….