The inspiration for my painting "Oneness" struck me during one of my morning walks a couple of years ago. I serendipitously encountered a magnificent gum tree gracefully shedding its bark in intricate flakes and curls. Although I had witnessed this natural process countless times before, this particular moment left me utterly captivated, igniting a newfound sense of wonder and curiosity within me.
The exposed, freshly forming bark, with its sleek and vibrant orangey hues, bore such a resemblance to the delicate texture of human skin. This resemblance excited me, sparking my eagerness to explore the convergence of these two seemingly disparate concepts. Throughout my artistic journey, I have always held the belief that we are intricately tied to the cycles of renewal and rebirth, invisibly connected to the pulse of nature itself.
Creating this piece was a wonderful experience. I started by laying the foundation in Photoshop, and then worked hard to bring it to life on the canvas. It allowed me to contemplate not only the beauty of nature, but our profound interconnectedness.
‘Oneness’
Oil on canvas
76 x 60cm
The painting is named after a poem by Joie de Winter -
Following a thread,
that lay inside my head,
I fell from earth to rebirth
Waking I see a tree
abound with connectivity
Less of doing
more of being
For seeing earths true worth.
This comes from knowing
pure intentions, my heart is growing
Forgotten forsaken, its time to awaken,
For all, for oneness,
To sustain and gain
One must give to live.
Back into being
Here earth I come to lay,
Put my attention in this moment,
To listen and to play.
And practice in presence,
As my thinking shifts,
Back into being,
As I experience this!
Truth rising from my heart,
Not relived from the past,
Identity is dissolving,
And my spirit re-births.
And I become nothing,
Of logical worth,
A happening an unfolding,
A few words,
Then a laugh.