Spiritual parallels to making one's art?

LarrySeiler · #1 09-11-2003, 10:44 PM

I was reading over one of Richard Schmid's books this afternoon on painting....and mused over his thoughts on warm lights cool shadows, cool lights and warm shadows....

thinking about how light reveals things, and absence of light hides things and how important that is as a landscape painter to take advantage of to create the illusion of depth, realism and so forth.

I was thinking how color is most intense when the sunlight is striking it directly...or when the subject has its side facing the sun.

Then...it struck me there are spiritual parallels to this.

In the Christian faith...light is referred to often as truth and understanding. That the light of the Word (scriptures) illuminates and helps to understand. How we as artists use light to illuminate and help a painting make sense.

For many of us...there is a sense of a "right way" to order the construct of a work of art to guarantee its success...and we weigh the importance of too much artistic license where it might actually work against the work working.

As I paint before nature and study the effects and drama of the light...often the mysteries of why something has aesthetic visual appeal makes itself known....and it is an "ahh- HAH!" moment.

Often...or most often in hindsight...we go thru a thing and wonder why, and after a passing of time it seems that we see that God had His purposes. It made no sense at all at the moment we were going thru it...but later seeing how consequences of a thing led to other things that otherwise would have never happened, it makes perfect sense.

For many of us in the earlier stages of our painting development we see one thing, think we understand another and find ourselves sometimes lost in the dark; sometimes it seems like we live and work with hope of a breakthru. Eventually...things begin to piece together, make some sense...and I feel something like this happens at various moments in each painting.

A grand idea takes off, then some distractions or things come up that threaten the cohesive possibility and harmony. You talk yourself into believing that as works before have turned out, so will this one. You counsel yourself to hang in there, keep working, and in the end....indeed such happened and the painting is a victory; a record of triumph.

I see a lot of mirror or similarities in life, to spiritual things to painting.

Curious what kinds of similarities, metaphors and such in a spiritual sense others here might have discovered about their work if any? I can think of a good number more....

Larry

arourapope · #2 09-12-2003, 12:08 AM

I'm still reading the same book I've been reading for the last two months. I have absolutely no time to read right now and it's a bummer. BUT, just recently got to the part about the San Bushmen's process for making their paint. The pigment they use is a red hematite found only in the mountains, a good way from their home. Collecting the pigment is practically a pilgrimage. They believe it has the power to protect from lightning. The men go in search of it, and then the women process it. They grind it between stones on the full moon, and mix it with blood from a freshly killed antelope. With this paint, they paint on the cave walls.
The petroglyphs are believed to dissolve the rock face, allowing for access to another world on the other side of the wall. The paint is also believed to hold within it a sort of potency, which the San people can access by placing their hands over the petroglyphs. Caves or rock walls with images super imposed on top of each other are believed to hold the most potency.
Only good people should touch the paintings, though. People who have not lived a righteous life who touch these paintings will remain affixed to the wall and starve. So it is believed.
It's a good book. Maybe I'll finish it one day.

Cool thread, Larry.

arourapope · #3 09-12-2003, 12:09 AM

Oh gosh, sorry. The book is The Mind in the Cave , by David Lewis-Williams.

Stoy Jones · #4 09-12-2003, 02:10 AM

Larry,

I read an article in Guidepost about Dennis Rogers, the strongest man alive. He is 5'9" and weighs in at 168. He can tear phone books in half, stop airplanes from taking off, and twist teflon frying pans with his hands. He has made guest appearances on David Letterman among many others and he attributes his strength through praying.

Quote "If I honestly asked God to give me strength, instead of complaining about my lack of size (relating to his "runt" years), there'd be nothing I couldn't do."

This struck a cord with me, "If I ask God to give me the ability to paint, instead of complaining about my lack of ability and lost opportunities, there'd be nothing I couldn't do."

I'm constantly having to grow everyday, since I'm still working on my personal relationship with the Lord, but I am sincerely inspired by this story. I keep it clamped to my drawingboard and always look toward God for my answers.

Stoy

LarrySeiler · #5 09-12-2003, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by aurorapope
I
Only good people should touch the paintings, though. People who have not lived a righteous life who touch these paintings will remain affixed to the wall and starve. So it is believed.

I find this quite interesting...and I think contributions cross faith or various spiritual persuasions from other members lurking might be cool as well.

There is a nobility where metaphor I believe helps us understand our individual directions. Certainly we agree these things pro-offer drive, vision, inspiration to stay the course.

These people looked for protection from lightning in the pigment.

A neat thing to muse....

...and as I do so, your contribution here Aurora is cause for me to consider that painting has a form of protection for myself as well. It is a guard against what I see as a common malady in our society/world today...which is indifference. Painting keeps my sense of wonder and awe of the natural world alive, and though I grow older to yet maintain more a childlike response to life.

A love for pigment and what it does with manipulation to help me connect to the hidden mysteries of beauty keeps alive the embers of the fires of gratefulness for the gift of life, painting a vehicle for celebrating life. The final work almost like a praise offering to the Creator. The brush engaging in a dance.

I see certain principles of self-destructive mechanisms, and though I relate that to seeds of the fall and sin in humanity...others will yet relate in other veins of philosophy or thought. To me...that is perhaps the lightning to avoid as the San Bushmen. Painting maintains a heart filled with thanksgiving which then helps me avoid the lightning....

thanks for sharing that...I grew some today!!

Peace

Larry

LarrySeiler · #6 09-12-2003, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Stoy Jones

This struck a cord with me, "If I ask God to give me the ability to paint, instead of complaining about my lack of ability and lost opportunities, there'd be nothing I couldn't do."

I'm constantly having to grow everyday, since I'm still working on my personal relationship with the Lord, but I am sincerely inspired by this story. I keep it clamped to my drawingboard and always look toward God for my answers.

Stoy

Painting is definitely a working out of our inner man, Stoy, no question. Over the years facing art competitions, my own self-doubts and so on...I have consoled myself again and again that I can do all things thru Christ who strengthens me.

I have looked to scriptures such as the one in Proverbs that says our gift will bring us before kings. Over the years...I have definitely seen that promise bear out. Television interviews, newspapers (in fact, one coming out this weekend with my participation in the worldwide paint out thru IPAP), before state representatives, athletes, speaking before large gatherings...so on and so forth.

One of my favorite lines is Mel Gibson's as William Wallace as he is chained to the wall in the dungeon awaiting his torture and execution. The queen is begging him to take a pain killing potion, but he does not want to lose his senses. He wishes to die a good death...an honorable one that represents the cause of freedom.

She is concerned for his fear of dying...and he responds. "All men die, but not all men live. I do not fear dying...but having never lived..." or something to that nature.

As I look at risks, challenges...I do not want to one day look back in my life retrospectively with regrets of having turned from opportunities where God could have blessed me and my family because I allowed fear or doubts to win out. Better to have lived.....

Larry

Keith Russell · #7 09-12-2003, 07:44 PM

Larry, if I may ask two more (I assure you) sincere question...

you said:
"I see certain principles of self-destructive mechanisms, and though I relate that to seeds of the fall and sin in humanity...others will yet relate in other veins of philosophy or thought."

You see these principles...where?

And, why 'principles of self-destructive mechanisms', rather than the 'mechanisms', themselves?

Thanks,

K

LarrySeiler · #8 09-13-2003, 10:22 AM

Today is an overcast day...

we finally received much needed rain, is still wet out with more rain in the forecast.

This is also the worldwide paintout weekend...and several newspaper's including Green Bay's Press Gazette (a major one for our state region) is carrying a story of my participation. I'll be leaving to go out this morning soon after another cup of java or two.

Its not an ideal day for plein air. In fact, some paint only when the sun shines thinking of such days as this as spoilers.

As plein airists...we are for the most a group of painters that chase the sun, and the effects of the sun's presence.

Now...there are for me a number of metaphors and analogies to extract from even simply contemplating this. I too, chase the sun AND the SON...I too look for things to happen by the sun's presence that compells a reaction from me, and likewise when I am in the presence of THEE SON...my spirit moves to respond, to react and I see His effect.

There are those gray overcast days though....where people chasing the SON simply don't see the effects of His light on a people. Perhaps dampened by routine and cares, coming because it is the thing to do they see less and less the effects of the Light. Falling into a rut...they rot.

We can fall into a rut of reserving our painting ONLY when the obvious presence of the sun is out.

I've seen it over the years...where special evangelists, bands or what not would arrive in a town and the many thousands throng to fill the place. They go to this meeting over there, laying on of hands meeting over here, the bless me mightily meeting across town...and so forth chasing the effects of the SON.

There is of course a worshipping the SON of the effects even when the obvious is not so obvious.

Today....as I go out to paint...I will contemplate over that. Aware of God's presence though the sun is not out. Thankful just the same that I will be shown subtleties and nature's somberness that otherwise in the presence of such contrast dynamics by the sun are lurking to be discovered.

It won't be obvious value's contrast that will speak the mysteries of beauty today. It will take a sensitive eye....like walking in the still and quiet place, waiting...longing.

God often whispers great mysteries and reveals intimate matters when we choose the still and quiet path over the obvious noise and clamour. Today will be a day of looking for the nonobvious, and the result will not doubt be deeply gratifying....

today...I worship the Lord of the dance, instead of the dance...

peace,

Larry

arourapope · #9 09-13-2003, 10:29 AM

The Lord of the Dance....
I love a good thunderstorm, Larry.
You know, I've been thinking a lot about the lightning stuff. In the last few years of reading, reading, reading

I've found several different lightning scenarios from different cultures. At least one case, other, than that of the San, of "something" from the mountains that protects from lightning. I'll have to hunt for the examples, and Time isn't cooperating with me these days. I'll try to get to it, though....
I seem to remember, in another instance, that oak was thought by the northern Europeans, to protect from lightning. Interestingly enough, because while living, the tree grows so tall that it attracts it. Hmmmmm..... That may be something fun to chew on.
I'll be back.

LarrySeiler · #10 09-13-2003, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by aurorapope

I seem to remember, in another instance, that oak was thought by the northern Europeans, to protect from lightning. Interestingly enough, because while living, the tree grows so tall that it attracts it. Hmmmmm..... That may be something fun to chew on.
I'll be back.

should be interesting to read what you've got to share on that. I do know that golf clubs and graphite trout fly rods would be poor choices to protect one from lightning.

Its funny though...obviously in some cultures lightning strikes must have occurred frequently enough to have been considered a problem. Perhaps the layout of the land and such...

Larry

Keith Russell · #11 09-13-2003, 06:45 PM

Life, reality, the universe, 'God'--whatever one calls it--does tend to push us around quite a bit.

In return, we each push back.

We all live within this tension, and yet we each both tolerate and manipulate our surroundings to varying degrees--and with varying degrees of 'success'.

I try to stay in the place where I am drawing and painting regularly and 'well', and where the other areas of my life (my job, my marriage, my friendships, my other hobbies, etc.) are also going at least relatively well.

It isn't easy, and I often find myself 'out of balance' in one or more areas of interest.

Once there, though, it is far easier to maintain equilibrium, than it is to restore it, once it has been disrupted.

I find that the same atttitudes and effort which allow me to do my best work, when applied to the other areas of my life, help restore, and then maintain, that sense of 'balance'--

--at least this seems to be what works best for me, right now...

K

arourapope · #12 09-14-2003, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LarrySeiler

should be interesting to read what you've got to share on that. I do know that golf clubs and graphite trout fly rods would be poor choices to protect one from lightning.

Its funny though...obviously in some cultures lightning strikes must have occurred frequently enough to have been considered a problem. Perhaps the layout of the land and such...

Larry

LOL.... yes. I don't think golf clubs and fly rods would work.

As someone who personally watched the barn right next to her house burn down because of a lightning strike, I have a very healthy respect for the stuff... and it is a big deal in the south at least. Lots of pretty serious electric storms. I'm thinking too, now that I have some mountains under me, and I'm a bit closer to the sky, that there may be something to lightning and mountains too. Not sure yet. I'll letcha know how many answering machines get zapped.

I will get back here, I promise. We're unpacking a gazillion boxes from the move. If you want one, I may just mail you one, cuz I'm sick of looking at them. Don't let this thread drown, okay?
Aurora

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