Sun – Stars – Fire – Flames

Sun, stars, fire, and flames – images from 1992 onward.

Words about:

Blind Faith

This piece is about not knowing what is on the other side while having faith in the process, even tho the dangers lurk; the ‘sharps’; the things we fear may happen if we make a change for ourselves. The Buddhist laughs gently at the anxiety of the scenario. A small figure in the distance leans into the wind, trusting it will hold him up… The pillow could be the dream, the idea that life is all just a thought and then gone, waking up from innocence and stepping over into the dangers of life. I painted this at a time when I was deciding on what to do with a business situation I was in. Do I take blind faith or continue in fear?
I often like to paint barefoot figures which could represent vulnerability, comfortableness, trustiness. The sun is a big ball of fire and yet in this case comforting and warm. I love how the biggest scariest ball of fire in the sky is thousands of times bigger than the earth yet represents warmth and comfort in visual imagery. It’s the dichotomy of an object’s symbol and it’s actuality. The symbol also represents something comforting such as god, all-mighty power, the source. Bubbles floating in the air as transient small films of soap suds, here and then gone as they pop. While considering all these ideas of what the sun can mean to us, it was an interesting experience to try and paint the light… I love figuring out light in a painting!