This painting is a self-portrait of sorts. I was thinking about the contentment I feel in my studio. It's a safe little womb where I'm free to contemplate and create. In the studio, the rest of life seems a little removed, thus her lovely little house painted in the background. The red immediately surrounding her is warm and passionate. I wrote about grapevines being a personal symbol of my family somewhere, way back on this blog. I like the way she gently holds her paint brushes.
The word 'paladin' means any worthy defender or advocate of a worthy cause. My kittens are the most worthy cause I can think of. Like mothers everywhere, I will fight to protect them in any way I can think of. The figure is struggling to hold on to those three butterflies (another personal symbol representing my three little girls) while the cat watches, waiting for an opportunity to pounce.
The mother holds her heart as a shield to blanket and protect her child with love. The child wears the horns of a bull which symbolises, like in several of my recent paintings, a challenge. Oh and aren't they that!
I wrote about the idea of a woman's gentle song just a few blog posts back. I think it's a beautiful idea.
These paintings will be shown at Heritage Gallery starting Monday, August 2. I'll be in the gallery Aug. 2-5. If you come to the gallery while I'm there, tell me! I have little treasures to give away.
7 comments:
all beautiful. i love the image of a child with bull horns. that really resonates with me...the love and challenge of motherhood is quite intense.
I love your new paintings, Cassandra! I especially love "A Mother's Heart". Yes, they are quite the challenge. :)
Anne nd Katie- QUITE INTENSE and A CHALLENGE indeed...it helps to paint it out.
If it was easy it would be boring and unfulfilling, right?
I do love it, that's for sure.
Thanks for you comments.
Cassandra
These paintings are a lot of fun. Loved your video on mormon.org! We LDS artists are representin' now! :)
I'm so sorry to have missed you in Cannon Beach. I hope you had a lovely show. Your paintings are wonderful. I too like the sentiment of the difficulty of mothering.
I love them! Every single one! I am really drawn to the colors you have used. (The green jacket! ) How did your show go?
My goodness. These are beautiful. I came over from Angela Henrie's blog. You can visit me at www.mydeartrash.blogspot.com. I'd love to feature you sometime.
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