Learn to Roll with Differences — They May Be Better

Day 4, Grand Asia 2018

Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, At Sea:

There is a danger in taking the same cruise for the second time. It is tempting to compare everything to last year. The first time I had no concrete expectations. Everything was fresh and new – “golden,” as Ponyboy Curtis might say in The Outsiders.

Now if something isn’t what I expect, my first inclination can be critical of the fact that it is different – before even considering whether it might be better. It’s a habit I fight, and this cruise is a good place to work on it.

Take watercolor: On the first morning I was excited to see what the classes will be like. I fell in love with watercolor painting on last year’s Grand Asia cruise and came prepared to immerse myself in it again this year.

The first day we didn’t paint. Our instructor Mary gave a 15-minute overview of her plans to provide a project for each day. The classes – either at 9 a.m. or 1 p.m. – will last an hour, “give or take.” We will use paint palettes Mary provides, starting with just two or three colors.

On the second day we created an abstract painting to learn how the colors mix on wet paper. Mine was a disaster; abstract is not my forte. I used too much water and the blue, red and yellow paints merged into mud. I did have time for a quick sketch of Barbara, whom I met on last year’s Grand Asia cruise. No one would recognize her from the sketch, but now it is part of my trip sketch journal. (I think of a mediocre or worse sketch in a new journal like a door ding in a new car – disappointing, but once it’s there, you lose that urge to be perfect.)

If you read my blog posts about painting with Jack last year, you know that he provided very little instruction but generous supplies. He put paper and paint in front of us and said we would learn best by doing. I struggled initially with no clue as to how to use watercolor paints amid the many options he provided (tube paints, paint pans, watercolor pencils and markers). It was a frustrating start for me.

Eventually Jack did teach us more about the nature of watercolor painting, how to mix colors and how important our underlying drawing was to the finished project. He showed videos teaching us new techniques and encouraged us to use all the materials he provided. He could bring bins of supplies because he lives in San Diego, our port of departure. And he kept our room open the entire day, encouraging us to paint as long as we wanted. I usually stayed through lunch.

I can see that Mary’s classes will be more structured, but I know I can learn a lot from her. She has organized her projects with a purpose. Start with just a few colors to see how they work with the water. Do some simple paintings early to learn about tones and values. Keep each lesson short and focused to emphasize the lesson of the day.

So it’s not exactly what I was expecting, but different doesn’t have to mean better or worse. The two styles most likely will complement each other. And Mary reassured us that we don’t have to do exactly what she is offering each day.

On the third day, we moved on to a landscape of mountains and snow in Antarctica. I was more in my element and actually had a result I think I will hang on my cabin wall.

Fortunately, I brought a good supply of my own paints, papers and brushes, so I can paint to my heart’s content after the short morning class. Or I can join the knitters and crocheters in the Explorer’s Lounge. I just happened to bring a small quilt appliqué project with me.

As I go through these early days on the MS Amsterdam, I plan to take each new activity and experience as it comes – different from last year, but often in good ways. It’s time to make new memories.