Hello again. As promised, here is the first of the many paintings I have completed over the past few months. The inspiration was flowing like crazy in this head. Seriously, I have not been sleeping because I lay there thinking of images, textures, playing each song over and over again.....(not that I’ll ever complain about that!)
This painting, “Hummingbird” was inspired my Lee’s song “Lullaby”. It is a beautiful song, one of my favorites. Unfortunately, it did not make the album. On an exciting note though, it was recorded by Ronan Keating. How amazing is that? An Artist like that wanting one of Lee’s songs? This was a huge step for Lee as a song writer. The world is starting to see what he can really do and it’s exciting. I’m so proud! The amount of talent this man has is unbelievable...
Right before I began this painting I injured my right hand, so I had to compromise on my normal painting techniques. (there is no way I was going to keep my ideas in my head until I was healed!) That being said, I did this painting using ONLY my left hand. (I am right handed). I relied heavily on the crackled textures and the lyrics peaking through the hummingbird and the flowers to tell the story. I do not have an impressive back story for this one. I merely wanted to represent the beauty of the lyrics, but also the roughness in which I had to work with.... a swollen bandaged hand was not going to keep me from creating. I have never been this inspired before, I mean...I have my sketch book with me at all times because each time I listen to the songs, new idea pop in my head. I loved reading what Mare and my sister had to say because art and music affects everyone differently... that is why I love it so much!
As always, at the end of this post I will have a link for you to hear it, as well as the lyrics.
But First, as Promised, Here is Mare’s view point as a Lee DeWyze fan, knowing the music and his vibe... As well as My sister, Danielle’s point of view. Her and my music tastes are quite different, so she will be telling you what SHE sees, not knowing anything about the story behind the song, the lyrics, etc.... . I encourage anyone that would like to share their thoughts to comment as well either as a fan knowing the song, or a fellow artist going by what they see (Please remember this is a place of inspiration & love. Everything has been created out of pure admiration, so be nice or leave) :-)
My sister, Danielle's perspective :
Hummingbird!! I absolutely love this painting. My first impression of The Hummingbird was bittersweet freedom. Let me explain this a little. I say bittersweet because of the different textures throughout the painting. It's like the hummingbird represents the beauty of being free and being able say, Look out world because here I am. The bittersweet textures tell me that this hummingbird had to earn the sweet nectar of those flowers! Like my life, I can go after anything and everything my heart desires....but I've gotta work for it. The textures to me represent all the hardships that I put before myself that my own path to that sweet nectar we all crave! But right here, right at this moment when I look at The Hummingbird, I know that through all the rough textures that hummingbird still made it to the nectar, he's still free and amidst all that roughness is absolute beauty and I'm inspired!!!
And here is Mare's perspective;
In mythology, the hummingbird is a creature that opens the heart. When the hurt that caused us to close our hearts gets a chance to heal, our hearts are free to open again. The hummingbird generally represents a joy of life and playfulness, a resiliency. Hummingbirds have the amazing ability to fly backwards, and some believe that it teaches us that we can look back on our past, but not to dwell on it and to move forward.... as is the pattern of a hummingbird in flight. The hummingbird can represent someone that has been through a lot in their life but have the ability to overcome hard times and difficult challenges....It has become a symbol of rising above trouble and hardship.
All creatures, no matter how strong, energetic, positive and resilient...eventually need to rest. They need a place to call home, something to give them the strength to continue, and the simplicity of stopping for a moment and just being.... Without it, they run out of energy, out of inspiration. As with all things, to stop and just let yourself be.... takes trust... a moment of letting your guard down.
The painting for “Hummingbird” is both rough and tender... strong and fragile.... it reminds me of what is in all of us. The overall roughness of the canvas texture is a harsh world for the hummingbird to live in.... as we all live in a rough world at times. The hummingbird and it’s flower are delicate and fragile, they appear stained.... How many of us have felt that way at one time or another?... But one feeds the other, giving energy and taking energy. The hummingbird lives in a harsh world.... but must trust enough to stop... for just a moment... to get what she needs. It’s not a coincidence to me that they are made of music notes and lyrics. Music.... the RIGHT music.... can feed us, save us, speak to us and soothe us.... The simplicity of a song....A lullaby to end one day, to allow us to trust in just being....moving us through the night, to wake up and live again the next...and Fly...
This is a link to Lee’s Stageit online concert. the video is from (JoviWyze) Thank you!!! Listen to Lee singing Lullaby here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVTh1JIamig
and here are the lyrics. Enjoy and thank you!!!
Now you'll lay me down to sleep
Pray the Lord your soul to keep
But your heart is safe with me
If I die before I wake
I'm sorry, darling, for every mistake
I've ever made
I could sing you the most beautiful song you've ever heard
You could sing along, you're my hummingbird
But you don't need to sing
I don't need to play, it'll be alright
I just want you to fall asleep tonight
This is your lullaby, lullaby
This is your lullaby, lullaby
It's just the way I say goodnight
It'll be okay, it'll be alright
This is your lullaby
When you told me you were scared
I was well aware
That your heart came unprepared
You left it under lock and key
I swear, my dear, that your key is safe with me
Please believe
I could sing you the most beautiful song you've ever heard
You could sing along, you're my hummingbird
But you don't need to sing
I don't need to play, it'll be alright
I just want you to fall asleep tonight
This is your lullaby, lullaby
This is your lullaby, lullaby
It's just the way I say goodnight
It'll be okay, it'll be alright
This is your lullaby
And I could sing you the most beautiful song you've ever heard
You could sing along, you're my hummingbird
You don't need to sing
I don't need to play, it'll be alright
I just want you to fall
I just want you to fall
I just want you to fall asleep tonight
It'll be okay, it'll be alright
This is your lullaby
“Hummingbird” Response:
ReplyDeleteThe hummingbird flits from flower to flower looking for something to feed it, but in the way it darts and flits is like optimism, not willing to flutter on negative thoughts, but instead choosing to drink from the nectar of positive things. Its ebullient flight (forward now, backward, sideways) is a lot like hope. And as we rise to hope, it creates resilience.
The execution of this piece--rough, gritty, simple, childlike, feminine—shows a simple joy as if the flowers are torn from paper, and the crumpled paper and cracked texture conveys an broken-but-beautiful feeling, a feeling that despite adversity, you can rise, hey, it'll be all right, it'll be okay.
It reminds me of friends who have had bittersweet experiences, but who’ve chosen to look for the positives in their pain, and have risen above—or like girls who are survivors of human trafficking, rebuilding their lives with the help of people who love them…the perfect symbol for the gal who’s “risen above” and continuing to rise.
The words in the bird and flowers are a story, the good words that you carry inside to encourage you, help you rise above....the message of these lyrics is, it’ll be all right, you're a bit scared right now, but I'm here to comfort you and show you love, so you'll be all right, so rest, okay?
There's a beautiful symbiosis of the artist's pain (her injured hand coupled with her understanding of the lyrics) with the way she chose to create the piece. You get the pain, but also the joy, the help, the brightness.
There is pain, there is hurt, but there is also beauty, and the hope when we reach out to comfort/love each other that makes it a “thing with feathers/that perches in the soul/and sings the tune—without the words/and never stops at all.”
Hope
by Emily Dickinson
Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune--without the words,
And never stops at all,
And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.
I've heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.