When Life Squeezes Lemons

Posted by Emilia Valerio • 5 months ago

A rectangular canvas divided into four sections: the top left painted green, the other sections left unpainted white. The canvas rests on a paint-splattered blue surface.
A rectangular canvas divided into four sections: the top left painted green, the bottom left painted pink, the other sections left unpainted white. The canvas rests on a paint-splattered blue surface.
A rectangular canvas divided into four sections: the top left painted green, the bottom left painted pink, the top right painted orange, the other section left unpainted white. The canvas rests on a paint-splattered blue surface.
A rectangular canvas divided into four sections: the top left painted green, the bottom left painted pink, the top right painted orange, the bottom right painted blue.
A rectangular canvas divided into four sections: the top left painted green, the bottom left painted pink, the top right painted orange, the bottom right painted blue.
A rectangular canvas divided into four sections: the top left painted green, the bottom left painted pink, the top right painted orange, the bottom right painted blue. An outline of a lemon is drawn on top.
A rectangular canvas divided into four sections: the top left painted green, the bottom left painted pink, the top right painted orange, the bottom right painted blue. An outline of a lemon is drawn on top.
A rectangular canvas divided into four sections: the top left painted green, the bottom left painted pink, the top right painted orange, the bottom right painted blue. On top, a yellow lemon and a yellow crescent-shaped lemon slice are painted.
A hand holding a rectangular canvas divided into four sections: the top left painted green, the bottom left painted pink, the top right painted orange, the bottom right painted blue. On top, a yellow lemon and a yellow crescent-shaped lemon slice are painted.
Green, Orange, Pink and Blue squares with a bright yellow lemon in the middle, a squeezed lemon slice next to it and lemon juice running off the page. The Green and Orange squares host lighter coloured lines alternating on both sides.

Green, Orange, Pink and Blue squares with a bright yellow lemon in the middle, a squeezed lemon slice next to it and lemon juice running off the page. The Green and Orange squares host lighter coloured lines alternating on both sides.

This last week I spent time at BEING studios working on a new artwork, That reflects how life gives you lemons and and sometimes then squeezes it in your eyes.

Several  big changes, and the loss of my dog a few weeks ago, all came at a point where It gave me the inspiration to paint something meaningful while achieving what I had set out to do the first time.  I hadn’t been able to achieve what I wanted in the first attempt, but now feel pleased I got to explore Pop Art and still and to have made this piece that is really authentic.

Sarah told me about a leadership theory called lemon leadership, interestingly, and one of the leadership styles in this model is the founder Brett Johnson saying that ‘there are leaders who shine light on things that they often think outside the box, but are likely to have challenges with practical implementation.’

These people are called Luminaries. A bit like me in some ways when I get sensory overload or life throws lemons and it all becomes too much. It draws attention/throws light on how I might need to change or other things around me might need to change too.