the saturday after

Listen carefully. What do you hear? I'll give you a play by play (sort of). The one face clock here in the office is going "Tock. Tock. Tock." Such a measured, patient sound... Rigel is panting. He does that after pacing relentlessly... I can actually hear myself breathe... And wait! McKinlee is scratching her way into some sort of imagined nest in the carpet beside me...

Those are the sounds of a Saturday morning to myself after a week of icon-writing. Ah... Isn't that bliss?

I really enjoyed Gabriel. We bonded well, in spite of the fact that I messed up royally in a few places and didn't have time to complete a couple of sections or fix the messes. Meh, as my friend The Bug would say. It's all good. He doesn't hold it against me, and I don't either. In fact, thanks to a style commentator on NPR and a comment shared by another painter, I had a flash of penetrating insight.

The gist of the style commentator's remark is that what we wear reflects who we are (in the sense that we choose what we want people to see). That's hardly a new thought, but she stated it in a way that got me thinking anew about what my wardrobe says about me. (We won't linger there!) The comment by my classmate was in regard to how spending time with a work of art gives us deeper and deeper appreciation for what the art communicates. And no matter how you want to spin it, what it communicates depends not on the artist, but on us. Those two things went to work in my mind and what emerged was this: we don't interpret art, art interprets us. With that perspective, my less-than-desired outcome with Gabriel made everything okay. I don't know if any of this makes any sense--I don't want to subject you to the peculiar wanderings of my mind that led to this epiphany--but it served to let me off the hook in terms of aspiring to create an icon that is "just right."

This is one of the wonderful things about art. It is organic, relational and transformative if we allow it to be. All art opens a window into our souls, and if we are likewise open to what it can tell us, it has the power to teach and transform. Then, when we see it with transformed eyes, it continues to reflect back to us what we see and know. With an icon there is an added dimension of holiness whether we apprehend it or not. I know this to be true for one simple reason: my own efforts to guide the paintbrush  in an attempt to write Gabriel's name on the icon were disastrous. Only when I invited Gabriel into the effort did it go well. Just sayin'.

On that note, with thanks to the blessed Teresa (teacher) and Sandra (assistant), and the whole communion of fellow-writers, I offer my icon with humility and love.

gabriel, day two

Let me just say that in spite of appearances, the dude rocks. The icon I've included here is the closest to the one we are doing (it's amazing how many versions of Gabriel there are). I'm rushing, again, this morning because of an even earlier departure, so don't have time to upload my pictures.

If you recall from previous descriptions, the first painting done is the application of the darkest base coats. The idea is to layer each successive coat, getting lighter as we go (dark to light--very spiritually and theologically on target). Gabriel's wings are black (I know, go figure!), although his wings will remain black, with detailing added to show the feathering. Anyway. while painting his wings yesterday I became aware of the enormity of them, and thought about how powerful they are. That got me thinking in directions I never would have contemplated otherwise, and it was a wonderful journey considering how God empowers us for our own particular journeys. It also brings new meaning to the phrase, "on the wings of angels." Can you hear them beating against the air? Whomp! Whomp! No whispy flapping here. Strong, powerful, more than sufficient to carry us through whatever trial we face. And then, soaring, soaring with ease and gentleness to rest from our labors.

Wish I could go on, but I've got to go! Blessings on the day. I'll carry you with me on Gabriel's wings!