Sunset Skies, Diamond Lives
On Clouds, Diamonds, and the Hope That Follows
Last week, on Day 17 of my July World Watercolour Month challenge, I spotted a beautiful sunset photo and decided to paint it. Just a fairly quick sketch in my sketchbook, but I loved the colour contrast and the way the light caught the clouds. It made me feel that happy,“Ooh, I did a thing!” thrill.
In a bit of post-painting Googling (aka “procrastinating while pretending to be profound”), I came across a quote by Paulo Coelho:
“Don’t forget: Beautiful sunsets need cloudy skies.”
And I thought, Well, isn’t that fitting? In a month where I’m painting a watercolour every day, it’s a gentle reminder that the beauty I’m capturing is only possible because of the clouds.
And honestly, it hit deeper than the painting.
From Cloudy Skies to Brush Strokes
Many of my artistic endeavours have sprung out of difficult times. Years ago, when my son’s mental health was in a really dark place and I was struggling myself, I joined Parenting Mental Health. They offered a Creative Connection session, and there, as an adult over 40, I discovered I actually enjoy art. It helped me relax, process, and breathe again.
I would never have chosen those cloudy days. But it’s the cloudy days that made the sunset striking, both on paper and in life.
“I wouldn’t change it now.”
The other day, I sat down with Isaac, who is nearly 20 now and doing really well. We talked about those tough years, remembering how deep and dark it felt. And Isaac said:
“Even with how hard that time was, I wouldn’t change it now because of all the things I’ve learned and who I’ve become.”
I felt a wave of pride and gratitude in that moment. To see my son as a warm, compassionate young man who cares deeply for others is one of the most beautiful things I’ve witnessed.
Sharing Our Story
Back in 2021, I created a digital story video sharing a part of our journey. It’s a raw, honest piece that mentions suicide, so please take care if you choose to watch it. But it captures how, through unimaginable challenges, our bond grew stronger, and both Isaac and I grew in ways we didn’t think possible.
Watch my digital story: "How Does a Mum?"
I would never want to go through those days again, nor would I say the beauty was worth the pain and loss. But I am thankful for the bond we now have, the depth of our conversations, and the laughter that somehow returned.
Diamond Lives
There’s another metaphor I’ve been pondering: diamonds.
When we think of diamonds, we think of sparkle, beauty, expense and maybe even a lost-in-the-sand engagement ring. But diamonds don’t start out glittery. They begin as lumps of coal, hidden deep underground, formed under immense heat and pressure, and only when they are mined, shaped and polished do they reveal their brilliance.
I love this quote from Paulo Coelho:
“A diamond is just a piece of charcoal that handled stress exceptionally well.”
It reminds me that the most resilient, beautiful lives often emerge from the hardest places. They shine with quiet strength, bringing hope to others who are stumbling through their own darkness.
If You’re in a Dark Place
If you are in a hard place right now, I know it may feel impossible to imagine beauty or joy ahead. I won’t tell you to “just think positive” because, honestly, that’s not how it works. But I do want to say:
You can do more than survive.
There can be smiles and moments of beauty again.
There is hope, even if it feels impossible to see it right now.
No, I wouldn’t say the beauty makes the pain “worth it.” But I will say that beauty can coexist with pain, and joy can return on the other side of heartbreak.
Let’s Keep Walking
Thank you so much for subscribing, reading, and being part of this space. I hope that, in some small way, these words and paintings bring a flicker of light and hope to you.
If you need someone to walk alongside you in a hard season, please know I’m here. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments or email me privately if that feels safer. If I can’t help, I will gladly signpost you to someone who can, because you are not alone, and there are people who care and can support you when life feels too heavy.
Keep going. There may be clouds now, but sunsets still come.
And who knows? Maybe we’re all just lumps of coal, slowly becoming diamonds, together.
With warmth and hope,
Andrea
In September 2025, I’ll be launching a monthly live “Watercolour and Wellbeing” session on Google Meet for paid subscribers. If you’d like to support my work (and join in for some gentle creativity and encouragement), you’re warmly welcome to sign up anytime.