Bookends

I have 2 large 5 ft gallery-wrapped white canvases in my garage.   I envision them as oil paintings, with only a tiny bit of assemblage incorporated.   They will represent the HEART OF GOD on the front end, wherein  we are originally conceived as part of his grand plan for the universe, and where, IN HIM our hearts, are still pure.     The final painting will be the  HEART of MAN  – meaning mankind or humankind – which will be an almost mosaic like collection of thousands of squares with little hearts embedded within forming one large heart.   I don’t want to give away the design yet, but I was inspired by a painting I saw in an art gallery in Napa Valley.   It wasn’t a heart – but the technique was incredible.   I believe I can adapt it for my last 2 pieces.  (My MASTERPIECES/IMPORTANT statements a la Art School Final Projects).   I just fought through a twinge of guilt.   “Am I copying something?”  but then I think about how artists over the centuries have borrowed from each other – the “schools” of painters back in the Renaissance who were taught and learned their techniques from the Masters and each other – the “Impressionists” who collectively  forged a new way of painting together – so no,  I’m not going to copy this guy – (by the way the artist was a very young man named Evaristo Paris De Andrade) but this one painting of his and the technique he used just hit me as BRILLIANT and I need to borrow a little from his process.   It will be uniquely my own when I finish, so I’m not concerned about Mr. Critic/Editor scolding and shaming me for lack of originality.  I’m learning and growing here.   And I’m going to show you Eduardo’s painting, so you can compare my final product when it’s done and hold me accountable for not being a plagiarist.   Gorgeous, isn’t it?

“For the Lord sees not as man sees:  man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” – 1 Samuel 16:7

“If we could look into each other’s hearts and understand the unique challenges each of us faces, I think we would treat each other much more gently, with more love patience, tolerance, and care.” – Marvin J. Ashton

Vast Mosaic Heart

If I could see into your heart

How life has torn it all apart

The jagged pieces sharp and shattered

Would I care or would it matter?

If you could see the root of fear

That hides beneath my smooth veneer

The broken child in brave disguise

Would you still want to criticize?

If we could see beneath the skin

The scars inflicted deep within

Would we all be so quick to judge,

Assume the worst or hold a grudge?

Each human walking on this earth

Has hidden beauty, hidden worth

Yet unaware we pass them by

So blind and deaf to each soul’s cry

Please give us eyes so we can see

The hearts that ache to be set free

Please give us grace to share a song,

To bind a wound, to right a wrong.

Please help us hear the higher call

And learn to see God’s face in all

And know that each has their own part

In Creation’s Vast Mosaic Heart