Heart Painting Stories
“Come as Close as the Air” © 2012 Catherine Jo Morgan. Framed oil pastel, $145
This heart painting was inspired by a personal memory of falling in love.
I’m sitting in my living room in Hyde Park, Chicago, age 23, entertaining two guests before we go sailing. I can’t wait to play the song, “Changes,” to one of the guests — the friend with whom I am falling in love.
This lovely duet sung by Jim and Jean begins with the words “Sit by my side, come as close as the air.” What an invitation to intimacy!
Detail from anam cara heart painting #160056 “Just the Way You Are”
All the Anam Cara heart paintings are left untitled, so they can be named by the person who bonds with them. At the same time, they all share my private working title: “Just the Way You Are.”
Here’s the story behind that.
In 2013 I was driving to Atlanta for a meeting. Into my thoughts rose the song “Just the Way You Are.” So I started singing it.
Right after I sang the phrase “When will you believe in me, the way I believe in you?” my world turned upside down.
Suddenly I heard this entire song as a love song FROM God. To me. To us.
I listened to this song while working on every Anam Cara painting. I still hear it as a love song from God. Which still brings tears to my eyes.
This song helps me remember that God just wants to talk to me. Not to hear my ideas about religion and theology. Nor to watch me try to prove that I’m worth loving.
Please don’t let my story get in between you and the love embodied in this song, “Just the Way You Are.” You may have your own reasons for not liking the name “God.” Pick a name you like! I’m just telling you my own story, as I understand it now.
Over the years I’ve pondered each phrase of the song. My resistance to each part has gradually melted. It just brought tears to my eyes to hear “Don’t imagine you’re too familiar, or I don’t see you anymore.” Perplexing, though, to imagine God saying to me — “You never let me down before.” I accept this as a mystery. As an awesome wonder.
You might want to ponder the phrases for yourself: “Just the Way You Are” lyrics (Opens in new window.)
More story about the Anam Cara paintings later — perhaps. This story, really, is all you need to know about the paintings and about me.
Early in 2007, I had a lung biopsy, because a PET scan showed what looked like inoperable cancer in both lungs.
I woke from the biopsy to hear the surgeon’s voice. “Cathy….“It’s not cancer.”
“Begin Now” (sold) © 2003 Catherine Jo Morgan
My first thought — “Now I can make more heart paintings!”
This amazed me because I had made only two heart paintings earlier — two small canvases painted in 2003, inspired by my father’s death from heart attacks. These two paintings, “Healing Heart” and “Begin Now” had sold quickly, as did prints and licenses of both.
I didn’t follow through with more heart paintings till after the lung biopsy. Now I see the humor in having painted “Begin Now” in 2003 and waiting four more years! It took a big scare.
#070027 (NFS) Watercolor pencil on rough watercolor paper from India
By 2007 I spent a lot of time in medical waiting rooms. I used those times to sketch out designs of overlapping hearts. Back in the studio later, I could finish these with watercolor pencils.
I became fascinated with how hearts connect. The natural color changes in the overlaps can symbolize the ways many hearts affect each other.
Playing with overlapping hearts led naturally to collage heart paintings.
#070010 “May I Be Open-Hearted” (sold) © Catherine Jo Morgan. all rights reserved.
For more birthday In 2007, after I healed from the lung biopsy, I received a wonderful birthday gift: two workshops with master collage artist Jonathan Talbot.
I found Talbot to be an inspiring and loving teacher. All my collage heart paintings are made using Talbot’s innovative approach.
I thought collage might be my permanent medium.
Then…I fell in love with oil pastel.
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