Celia Paul describes painting as the language of loss, involving the constant scrapping and rebuilding of layers. This process reflects a cycle of hope and despair, where the artist must destroy paintings to achieve true depth. A painting's energy is influenced by the time taken to create it, with slower paintings acquiring a mysterious stillness. Painting is a personal art form, akin to a handwritten letter, enriched by the artist's character. Words and images are closely connected, and the author reflects on the fast, obsessive nature of photography compared to the slowness of painting. The author considers the therapeutic potential of painting's slowness and admires painters who dedicate themselves to the process, sacrificing instant gratification. Photography, though image-making with light, is instantaneous, contrasting sharply with the deliberate pace of painting.