Scribbled Lives Week 3—Janus Looks Back

In Roman mythology, Janus was the god of endings and beginnings who presided over doors and gates. Usually depicted as having two faces looking in opposite directions, Janus had an eye on both the future and the past.

The month of January, named after Janus, is a time for new beginnings. But what if we pressed pause to look back? Yes, 2020 was a year of challenges. Was there anything worth a backward glance?

This week’s prompt invited us to identify something in our lettering practice that is undone or could be done better. Unfinished business often has a strong start—and just needs a little stimulus for a good finish.

At President Biden’s inauguration, poet Amanda Gorman recited, “For while we have our eyes on the future, history has its eyes on us”. Her poem, “The Hill We Climb”, made me think about things that could be done better or things yet to be accomplished.

My first attempt at this John O’Donohue text was disappointing—the concept was lacking and did not inspire me to tweak it further. The colour of the original is a brighter forest green than appears here, but that was not enough to redeem it!

In the second attempt, I chose a relevant portion of the text and highlighted certain words rather than be forced by the pattern of the paper to dictate emphasis.

After studying built-up caps and taking an introductory watercolour class, I was armed with new skills. Pencil and watercolour on Fabriano watercolour paper. A random watercolour mark that could not be removed was transformed into a tiny gull winging its way over the light—a happy accident that delighted me!