Cherry Blossoms
A week or so ago I went through a kind of cleansing phase. One of those times we have to walk through the shadow and darkness of our inner demons. Wading through doubt, fear, and insecurities seeking the clarity, direction, and meaning of our goals and purpose. It is horrid in transition but the benefits in the end are so empowering.
I have been giving a lot of time to other goals, while they are my goals too- they left me feeling like I abandoned my self. I was not doing enough for my art goals. Then the unrest of that spilled into other things. In the end a feeling of being overwhelmed and defeated was there, leaving me to sit and go through some hard introspection.
I had to find a balancing point to keep me inspired and moving on all the things I want to do. I had to just plunge into my art a bit and rediscover why I love creating so much.
Ultimately I gave myself permission to reset goals to be more realistic and in harmony with each other. I had to choose where I needed to lower some ideals in order to push up the achieving of other standards.
It is essential we learn a solid compromise with ourselves. Neither giving into and spoiling the child that will find a hundred reasons not to work, nor squashing the vital flexibility that allows the flow and inspiration which comes from play.
So here I was feeling all romantic and young with creativity and art and looking for something very different and new.
The drawing above is a study for a painting. I used to explore shape in the drawings before painting and found it a good practice- so I went back to it. I really wanted a centaur with a unicorn horn- and have not been able to find a name for such a creature in myth. So if anyone out there has ever heard of one let me know – PLEASE!
This one is of an adolescent Centaur / Unicorn coming of age. I wanted a mood of wonder and fascination with the world along with a sense of innocence and youth. The contrapposto and foreshortening were really challenging with the figure but it turned out really well.
In mythical or fantasy art there is this idea that it is easier because you don’t have to depict reality. It is the opposite though that is true. To do it well you have to really know and study real life forms. If you do this your creation can be real to the viewer and will allow them to relate better. What makes it harder naturally is- there are no real centaurs / unicorns so you have to study and merge forms in a believable way.
My Universe, My Bride
Deep, elusive, dark trembling ecstasy
quivering at the vastness
of her soul
drawn down to bloodied knee
pining, aching, sobbing
to become oneTemptation
oh the temptation
to curl up like a lost child and
weep the tormenting stillness
to wail and moan voiceless,
pitying the swelling darknessI pity it not. Here then on bloodied knee
I can draw my gratitude
and rise
and rise
and rise forwardHer voice carries the silhouettes
of shadowed moon
and shattered stars
Her eyes pierce
through the darkest depths
as torches
of eternal myth and feeble truth.I can but only
press firm against her
as if leaning into abyssI can but only
be freed in the falling
into her bosom
into the oceans of her heart
into the chasms
of her secret mindCold and tremulous
is the wind on falling form
aching and cold
comfortlessI fall into to her
to embrace her
and there is nothing
nothing
but the roar of wind aboundRemote cold untouchable
yet I crave to see more…..
beyond her veil
beyond her veil is her prizelips of pureness and passion
lips of innocence untouched
sweet lips
the lips
of a brideI lift the veil
I lift the veil
dream and vision
dream and vision
so I lift the veil.A thousand moons
a million stars
endless being
breathless becoming
quivering at the vastness
of her soul
Deep, elusive, dark trembling ecstasy
beyond the veil
beyond the veillips of pureness and passion
lips of innocence untouched
sweet lips
the lips
of a bride.I lift the veil
I lift the veil
dream and vision
dream and vision
so I lift the veil.
© Brenda D. Baker
*My poetry is published only here.I ask that if you choose to share my poetry on the internet you always link back to this page, and only do so for personal use.