Saturday, May 19, 2012

One White Crow

My art prompt this weekend: create a piece of art and send it to somebody. Anybody who knows me well, knows how much I love giving away home-made gifts.  This weekend I created an encaustic piece to send out into the world, depicting "One White Crow".



It all started when a friend sent me some reading about a philosophy regarding the one white crow; the idea that it would only take one white crow to prove that not all crows are black.  And if you've never seen one? You have to have faith that something could exist, even if it hasn't been proven yet.

Sometimes in art, you also have to have a little faith. Especially when you are working with an unpredictable medium, like melting wax. I layered Japanese papers and wax until I had almost completed the piece. And then I covered the painting in a thick layer of lacquer and lit it on fire. And this is where faith comes in. You just have to know that, when the flames die down, everything will work out. This unique smoky, crackled patina is proof of that.

 

I do not follow religion and am not spiritual in a traditional sense. The closest thing I've ever felt to religion was becoming a mother. I had complete faith the moment I met my first son that we were meant to be together on this journey; that we had always been together on this journey. Here is my favorite line from my favorite book: 'He knew only that the child was his warrant. He said: If he is not the word of God God never spoke." (The Road by Cormac McCarthy).

I hope my little white crow has good luck in his journey and meets the one he is meant for, even though they haven't met yet.

4 comments:

  1. And you my daughter have long been my religion. White crow proves it.
    Consider it sold to your most ardent collector.

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  2. Ang your crow is beautiful but your words are more so!

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  3. The crow found its home and is so completely loved! What an amazing gift from both the creator and the instigator. I can't believe I didn't see the blog!!

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  4. The White Crow has long been my totem teacher and personal symbol. What an impressive, beautiful work.

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