Painting With Words
written by: Noel Mouldovan
When an Impressionist paints, he uses one of his very
fine Paint Brushes and his palette of bright, vibrant colors.
His array of colors spills out onto the canvas and fills his
masterpiece with his innermost thoughts and feelings.
For me, writing is my Paint Brush and words are my multi-colored
palette filled with colorful adjectives- that drips down onto my paper
canvas and creates the colors of my innermost emotions.
When I’m teaching a lesson and my students truly “get it”- that is –
really understand the message- I’m trying to convey to them- I feel
the invigorating, blood-pulsing color of A Red Autumn Day…
When I’m struggling with decisions, gray takes over and I’m caught
in uncertainty between which is my choice. I waiver in one direction
then reverse my course and head in the opposite direction- not
certain- which choice is- the best one to make.
When I’m feeling alone and the pangs of loneliness grab hold of me,
lines of black or blue overcome me and capture me in their embrace.
When I’m really okay- yellow and gold enrich my life- like a Happy Face
on a warm sunny day- and its flow of energy encompasses my soul as it-
leads and guides me- and nudges me forward to help others in need.
And as I listen- with my inner ear- my palette of colors gently speaks
to me. I listen, intently, to the nonverbals I hear.
Is someone in pain? Is someone alone? Is someone so scared?
Do they need an embrace?
And that’s what happened to me- with a gut-wrenching punch- in the
not long distant- Fall of 2025. One of my students was crying out-
in pain- waiting to see if I could hear his unspoken words. His pain
was so real- all I needed to do- was just listen with my heart.
His pain was so obvious- his nonverbals I could feel- I heard him-
I listened- I extended my hand.
I was in my “good place”- filled with nourishing energy- and then-
it just happened- no warning was I given. My colors just changed as I
drifted away from yellow -and immediately switched over- to
empathy with its pink and soft blue.
I listened very carefully- my antennas were up- I needed to be a
nurturer- filled with caring and support.
A student of mine was trapped in dark blue. It held him- so tightly-
in its terrible grip. It tossed him and threw him – no mercy did it
give. It took him quite under- going deep…deep…deep…
He was drowning- going lower- in his horrible pain- from his-
blue place to his black place to his hopeless despair.
I heard his dark color…I heard his dark place. I was filled with
My Compassion- My Caring- My Trust.
And so I came forward- with my empathy- in hand- with my
nurturing colors of pink and soft blue.
I told him I heard him- he was- now- not alone. My Red came forward
as my heart opened up. He could hear what I was saying- He could
feel my concern- and with these words I comforted him and
comforted myself- as well.
“I will not forsake you…Take my hand and I’ll be there.”
- Painting With Words - July 23, 2026
- Nature’s Paint Brush - April 11, 2026
