The Foolish Painter

There was once a painter who painted peculiar paintings. Nobody wanted them, but still he painted. He painted when frames were gone, when brushes snapped, all colours drawn.

“Find a trade,” his kin intoned, “or you’ll lose your home.”

So he did.

He joined a Guild and painted walls. At first, he painted with colours, alive and bold. The house lord delighted. The Warden incited.

“Too bright,” he spat. “Paint grey, keep it flat!”

The painter did as he was pressed. Walls in grey, he was distressed.

The house lord frowned at walls so flat. The Warden lied, “Small brush strokes are the best.” Tiny brushes, thin and small, whole days vanished on a single wall.

Then broke the brush, bristles gone. The Warden snapped, “Another? No, move on.”

The house lord was dismayed. The Warden said, “Let the greys cascade.” He sent the painter to halls so dim, attics where the air grew thin. He did as he was told.

The house lord begged, “Let me speak to him.” The Warden lied, “He’s mute. No words. No voice. You don’t have a choice.”

The painter, awake at night: “Is this right?”

His kin addressed, “Your bills won’t rest. One day you’ll paint your art again.” That day never came.

That’s when he resigned, leaving all grey walls behind. The Warden was, of course, not satisfied.

There was once a painter who painted peculiar paintings. Nobody wanted them, until one house lord’s walls turned dull, and he, at last, bought them all.

Why Foolishness Matters

You may wonder, what is this story about. Why tell a story about foolishness? Is there even a backstory? I’m glad you asked. It means you are curious. And yes, there always is. For me, it comes from those moments when I knew I was going along with something that wasn’t right for me, that wasn’t aligned with what mattered. That’s often when things fall apart, when the world starts to look plain grey.

This story isn’t about bashing Wardens. They exist because they are needed to keep things moving in a certain way. It would be foolish to say they are all bad, or without soul. Most Wardens even smile, even show empathy. But they hold on tightly, not to what matters to them, but to the systems they serve.

And that’s where it gets hard. We live in a world where polarisation divides us. It takes courage to say, No, this isn’t right for me. It takes even more to act on it, and keep choosing colour over grey. Foolishness in itself may not matter, but it can take you to places you never dreamed you could reach.