Sister Wendy Beckett

Do you know about Sister Wendy Beckett? She was a nun who used to do some TV presenting for the BBC, back in the nineties. She did these ten minutes segments on art critique and you can find them on YouTube. They were really just to fill time before another program started which is a shame because they transcended any other program; I could do with an hour. The artis stunning. But I also like programs by Sister Wendy because she's so grounded. She was in her sixties or seventies and has spent many years in solitude, studying art and praying. Life is tumultuous for me right now so watching her and learning about art feels like sitting by a bubbling brook. I want to be like her when I grow up. The non-nun version.

One of the things I like so much about Sister Wendy is her humour. She'll describe a painting, one about a male saint being drawn as noble and a female one as haughty and say ‘I am amused by this painting because I can see the sexism coming through in the way the different characters are drawn. And I am offended by this. But because I do not want to be angry, I choose to be amused’.

If only I found it that simple to turn my feelings on and off. Usually when someone on TV talks about choosing emotions I call BS and say they are either lying or repressing. With sister Wendy I feel it is true. She has had so much practice sitting with being who she is.

Anyway, this week we are doing some painting. I feel sister Wendy would be proud of us. We’re finding some stillness in the insanity that is modern parenting life. We’re paying close attention to what the world is like and who we are. And doing it through the joyful medium of painting daffodils!

On a practical note, if you are already a painter and you have some medium brushes, one flat, one round, please do bring them along for your own use.

Otherwise, I have everything we need! And no need for skill, very much not the point.

I hope to see you there, all my best, Ellie x