The Colours of Childhood
A little piece of my childhood, painted in blues, greens, and the warmth of old memories. Born from an afternoon of Capoeira, conversations, and a dear friend, this painting reminds me that growing up doesn’t have to mean growing out of the colour and wonder we once saw in the world.
A little reminder to keep that younger version of me alive. ♡
The Inspiration :)
It started on the 16th of August, when I went to Regent’s Park to train a little Capoeira with a friend and later paint with some people. I usually never paint things like this. If you’ve been following my work, you’d know my style is a bit… well, darker. My paintings are heavily intuitive and usually depend a lot on how I’m feeling and what is happening around me. A lot of my sadder paintings come out when I’m home, alone, and in my own head.
But that day was different.
It was the first time I started a painting with someone around me. And I remember thinking about how strange that felt, because the beginning of a painting is always so important to me. Once I put something on the canvas, it could take absolutely any direction. I had good friend Bobby around that day, doing a little Capoeira trauma-dumping and yapping about life, and somehow it just felt really nice. It made me miss Capoeira, and a lot of those old days and little moments that I didn’t realise I missed so much.
I think that feeling made its way onto the canvas.
I started using some of my favourite colours blues and greens and instead of taking the darker direction my work often does, the painting just kept becoming happier. And honestly, I don’t know what I would have painted if I had been sitting there by myself.
Bobby has always reminded me of those days after Capoeira class the shenanigans, the conversations, the feeling of having nowhere particularly important to be and just enjoying being young. Being around him brought back that version of life for me.
And I think that’s what this painting became about.
It feels like remembering what it was like to see the world when you were a kid when everything felt a little more colourful, exciting and full of possibility.
I want to feel like that again. I want to do adult things. I want to grow, work, build a life and do all the things that come with being an adult… but I don’t want to hate it. I don’t want growing up to mean losing that feeling of colour.
So this piece is, in a way, my reminder to myself that maybe that version of me isn’t gone. Maybe I just need the right people, memories and moments to bring her back.
And finally, a little credit to Bobby for existing. ♡
Forever Grateful,
Your nur
-Shahee
