Size: 1100 x 1100mm
Medium: Oil on stretched canvas
Year: 2022
This painting is special to me on a personal level. I created this work during Easter 2022. It depicts the scorched Protea flower cones after a recent mountain wildfire. The burnt cones are bending downward. The smoke and heat of the fire activated the seed cones to disperse the seeds onto the earth.
In this work I draw a parallel between the natural world and the spiritual during Easter time: As the Protea plant died during the wildfire, so Jesus died for our sins on the cross. And as the scorched Protea cones disperse their seeds into the ground bringing new hope and new life, so Jesus brough forth hope and life to humankind.
In my painting, the orange seedlings represent this: new life.
“Response” is a series of oil paintings created from a place of abundance and deep gratitude. The lyrics of the song “Gratitude”, by Brandon Lake, resonate with me: “I’ve got one response, I’ve got just one move…”.
I have but one response to abundance and goodness – and that is a thankful life.
Every brush stroke comes from within and is intuitively applied to the canvas as an act of thankfulness. Each artwork an anthem of praise. I find pleasure in expressing my gratitude in this way.
As the fynbos in creation brings praise to its Creator by being what it is: plants that grow, flower, and flourish in all conditions – so I will bring praise by being who I am created to be: an artist.
My art is my gratitude.