My Symbolism

Nudes

I see the painting of the female form to be a reflection of the Goddess. What is as beautiful as the vessel in which we find ourselves experiencing our conscious existence? If we were created in the image of God, isn’t the artist of the human form painting portraits of God?

 

Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds are messengers. They stem from a symbolic encounter with hummingbirds after the death of my mother. They can be messengers from anywhere – the subconscious, the hereafter, or another being.

 

Seahorses

Seahorses are the striving of every man or Everyman. The good intentions that might get sidetracked or run into a speed bump but persevere nonetheless.

 

Paper cranes

Paper cranes symbolize hope. In Japan, a thousand paper cranes traditionally grant a wish or represent the hope for a thousand years of happiness to a newly wed couple.

 

Praying Mantis

A symbol of stillness and mindfulness, of the need to listen to the still, small voice within

 

Gilding the Lily

The expression is a condensation of Shakespeare’s metaphor in King John: “To gild refined gold, to paint the lily … is wasteful and ridiculous excess.” i.e., you wouldn’t need to add gold to a beautiful lily. For me, it is the efforts of a person to make themselves more attractive by artificial means.

 

Red

The color red is the color of energy, passion and action. It is a warm and positive color associated with our most physical needs and our will to survive. Red is energizing. It excites the emotions and motivates us to take action. It is also strong-willed and can give confidence to those who are shy or lacking in will power. It is the color of sexuality and can stimulate deeper and more intimate passions in us. In Eastern cultures such as China red is the color for good luck – it is traditionally the color for weddings. In Indian culture it symbolizes purity and is often used in their wedding gowns.