This may sound arrogant or perhaps even a little over the top.. but here goes.. "I have painted a "masterpiece". I finished the Water Goddess.. signed my name and everything. I have been sitting with her for a couple of hours and am mesmerized. She is beautiful.. and an amazing piece of ART.
I have been painting off and on for about 25 years. Really never had the time to put the energy I wanted to into it. I have pages and pages of ideas that I've never been able to develop. Now as I don't have much else to do and for reasons I won't get into am pretty much isolated from the world. So I paint and write and paint some more.
My masterpiece started off as a male figure in my mind sort of like a sage or maybe a wise one. The original drawings were actually of a man. I could see the figure rising out of the water in the Burrard Inlet in Vancouver.. I could see it in my mind the figure emerging slowly as I sat on the bench at Lonsdale Quay contemplating where I have been and where I am going.
As the painting went on, it went from male to androgenous and eventually to female. And as I look at the progress pictures she actually looked pregnant for a bit. Now she appears to be holding something.. like holding a baby.
Many people have commented through facebook and through email about what they see as the painting has progressed. Some saw it as the returning Jesus, some Mother Mary.
And She Rises - Water Goddess
Image:
One man told me there was not one live starfish in the Burrard Inlet and that the great Gaia is really peod because we are killing all of her creatures. She is rising up to show her displeasure. He called it the Wrath of Gaia.
A couple of friends saw her representing the street women of Vancouver who have recently risen and formed a militant group protesting the Olympics and trying to bring awareness to the women who have been murdered on hwy here in BC known as the Highway of Tears. She actually looked quite sad and broken at the time. Her eyes were still closed. I remember looking at the painting and thinking she better wake up and spent the next couple of days redoing her face so she could have eyes open.
And Here Eyes Opened!
Once her eyes were opened several named her the Water Goddess, others saw her as Yemanjá, Virgin de Regla or the Black Madonna (she was very dark at one time) and a couple see her as the Lady of the Lake coming from Camelot. Nemue.
Perhaps she is all of these things. I don't really know. All I do know is that she is beautiful today.
And for some odd reason I just want to enjoy her for a wee bit . Plus, I have no idea what I am going to d0 o with the painting as it is large.. 30 x 40.
A part of me wants to take it down to Londsdale Quay and just sit with her on the bench. I might do that as soon as it is dry.. paint is a bit wet yet.
Actually.. it is near dry.. I think we will go take a walk and check out all the Olympic Venues!!
anyone want to video the experience??
Oil on Canvas 30x40
Completed Feb 19, 2010
And What Do
You See?
I made a committment to take my art to the next level.
My technique and style getting better and better everyday.
Now I am needing help to sustain myself as an aritst.
What is my next best step?
Any Ideas?
Image:
Feb 19, 2010
We went for a walk today.. just to the park next door. Victoria Park. Sat on the bench for a bit.
A 3 year old stood looking at the painting and commented, "She needs to get out of the water." When I asked him why he said that he said she doesn't need to be there. I am always amazed at the wisdom of children.
I walked through the park for a bit with my painting in hand. It is such a beautiful day. The sun shone brightly I had forgot my water bottle so headed across the street to the local convenience store. The owner of the store is always so sweet to me. She looked at the painting with wide eyes and said at first she thought it was Jesus, then the Virgin Mary. I put the painting down and she contemplated it for a bit and announced "it is you!" mmmm..
Heading back towards the park this man starts running towards me.. "I need to talk to you." I stopped and waiting for him. He had this big grin on his face.
" I was driving down londsdale and saw you and your painting. I turned around and came to find you. You need to not let it be in the sun, it will change the colours." he went on to tell me he is a house painter and knows paint and art needs to be viewed from a distance and protected from UV. I attempted to get a business card or to give him mine but he declined and as quickly as he appeared he went on his way.
Back home we went. I noticed that one of the edges on the painting was still a bit tacky and was wearing a pretty blue spot on my new pants. Think she needs to sit and dry a bit more before going out..
Outdoor Photo - Water Goddess
Fee 22: Toney Brooks author and retired broadcaster writes on my blog:
Water is symbolic of the Universal Womb. Emerging from water, this lady announces herself as a type of Great Mother goddess.
The universality of her message may be emphasized by Vancouver, host of the Winter Olympics, a gathering of nations. Winter itself promises spring rebirth. In this regard, the painting is prophetic -- she is depicted emerging, soon to rise above the water with unfolded arms beckoning to all.
She may be the Lady of All Nations ("formerly known as Mary," to cite her own words). This prophecy/apparition dates to the 50s in Holland. To fully understand her message, and her, one first must reinterpret the Catholic, and to a lesser extent, the Christian wrappings and presumptions.
Both in the painting and the prophecy, she herself is in transformation from Mary to the more inclusive Lady of All Nations.
She speaks of a Oneness transcending religious dogmas that often divide and oppress her children. She speaks of a post-Christian, post-dogmatic conceptualization of the Great Mother goddess, a quite controversial notion.
In short, the Lady of All Nations may manifest the long anticipated return of the Sacred Feminine.
Loving All My Relations, Painting, Drumming, Writing and Creating in a Good Way.
