Painting can be cathartic, inspiring and very enjoyable. Of course I refer to the application of oil or water colours to canvas, not updating your investment property with a fresh lick of Antique White USA.
It’s an ancient art. Mastered by Dali, Michelangelo, Picasso and now, CO2 Australia.
We engaged a group called The Mind Gallery to facilitate a session at our 2010 staff conference. We met beforehand to agree on a theme for the painting and a colour palette. Trish, Pip & Amanda foster great energy, and through their creativity, the potential of our own was realised.
The girls set up while we were on a break, and everyone was suitably intrigued when they walked into what had been transformed into a primary school art room. You know there’s fun on queue when paints are involved.
As in the workplace, each person had a different style. Some favoured vigorous brush strokes, while others adopted a careful, almost dainty approach. The road to our final artwork was paved with enjoyment, learning and shared visions. The paint became a liquid vehicle for our ideas; transporting them from the corners of our minds, into the fresh air.
The experience enhanced our ability to express ourselves as individuals as well as team members. Everyone dived into the action – even the shy ones. We were blown away by the final painting. It was amazing to see how rank amateurs, with a little help, could produce art that I’d be happy to hang on my own wall.
It illustrates the connection between CO2 Australia’s people, depicted in the shape of a mallee eucalypt. Each individual plays a vital role in supporting the strength and vitality of the company, while at the same time energising the CO2 Australia family tree.
Picasso said: “Some painters transform the sun into a yellow spot; others transform a yellow spot into the sun”. What did we do? I think we transformed a wonderful experience into a lasting reminder of the day we dusted off the imagination and created something beautiful.
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