Mind Body and Spirit
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Janus, the Roman god of transitions. One head looks to the past, one to the future. I fell in love with them while visiting Rome a couple years back. Janus is where we get the month name, January. This version also incorporates Memento Mori, (an idea more common in times when we didn't live very long, but still a good concept to remember) which reminds to live your life fully, do all the things, make the best of everything. We have a finite amount of time here. One more thing, roses used to be a symbol of this concept. There used to be a phrase, "Gather ye rosebuds while ye may."
The meaning behind this piece is about moving forward in life. Leaving behind things that have hurt us or are not conducive to growth, for example: our past, our mistakes, our insecurities, abuse, and any other emotional baggage that weighs us down. She is falling, and she cannot see where she is going, but she has to trust that she will land in the right place. It is meant to be terrifying, because growth, and the unknown, can be truly terrifying. My most personal painting to date. This concept is very close to my heart, and is something I struggle with often. If it will serve as a reminder to me to "Let go", then hopefully it can remind others to do the same.
This piece is about emotional imbalance, and not quite fitting the mold. She is surrounded by perfection, but she doesn't quite fit in. Her pearl necklace is broken, the pearls are falling. She is left of center but still maintaining the facade of perfection.
Not giving up, not letting the bad stuff pull you down. The beads of water show she has struggled, but she is still persevering despite the odds. Determination. This painting and concept mean so much to me. I struggle with anxiety and depression sometimes, but this has been my mantra. Do not give up. Things get better, always.
This is based on the story of Sadako Sasaki. She was a child growing up in Hiroshima, Japan when the bomb was dropped there. She developed radiation tumors and went to the hospital. While there she learned of a Japanese legend, if you build 1,000 paper cranes, you are granted one wish. She started building. She used medicine wrappers and napkins, everything she could find. She reached her goal of 1,000, and she wished for peace. She didn’t wish to extend her life, she wished for nothing selfish. She wished people would not do this to others. She died at age 12, and was buried with some of the cranes. Her parents kept some of the cranes as well. They send them to places affected by war, such as the 9/11 site in New York City. Her story touched me so much I had to do a painting in her honor.
The meaning behind this piece is about obsessing over the details. To be overwhelmed by the details so much that it obscures the big picture. It is the, "Can't see the forest for the trees", idea.
This piece is about endless potential and possibilities. It signifies the endless potential of our minds. Similar to the vastness of the universe and the galaxies contained in them, we are capable of changing our lives with our brain. The possibilities are endless. She also signifies the beginning of our civilization.
The meaning behind this piece is self image, specifically body image. There is an incredible pressure put on us to fit into society's standards of beauty, which is not fair. The skeleton is golden, to signify that true beauty comes from within. More back story: This is the first oil painting after 8 years of acrylic painting, so it is a very important piece. Those 8 years of acrylic painting was mostly comprised of property work (Paid jobs with other companies' ideas and characters), and not much of my personal voice. While very exciting, it had being weighing on me creatively for years and I was looking for something more. Supplementing these personal pieces with the property work is a perfect balance.
Chaos is indeed beautiful. I was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder when I was 14, so I have learned to juggle many things in my brain. I can focus on many things at once, in my chaotic brain. The only opaque oil paint is the crown she wears, which is the chaos symbol. I have felt this many times, and it's okay. Acknowledging it, embracing it, using it as a super power, is the best approach.
This piece represents a focus on how other cultures view death, and to focus on the positive. In many cultures, the mourning of one's passing includes telling positive stories about the person, consuming favorite foods and drinks, listening to their favorite music. It is a time of celebration of their life, not the sadness that they are gone.