Thursday, December 20, 2007

Inspire me thursday: Giving upside-down painting

I generally love color, but for some reason lately I just want to paint things in black and white. This painting is about much more than giving, but I am posting it for the inspire me Thursday giving theme because the upper right square is my image for giving.

It's supposed to be upside down because I like thinking about giving as something that is a contrarian act. Even though at Christmas it's the thing to do, to really give we have to break the pattern we normally live in.

Sometimes giving causes us to turn ourselves upside down. When I worked on staff at a Bible Camp we called this the "upside-down kingdom". The upside down kingdom was a world where we gave instead of took, served instead of led, and where the last would be first.

10 comments:

A M Persand said...

I think black and white makes you focus on the message more - our silly brains get so distracted by colour, I should know, I live by my Pantone swatch book...:)
and that corner image - perhaps that should be a painting of its own. a huge one. it's striking and strong, love it.

titration said...

Funny you say that because I was just thinking that recently too! Hmmm. Good thing to do during christmas. :)

ethantan said...

I agree. sometimes I like to leave my sketches just as they are in black & white as I feel that giving color to them spoils the whole message ;) I like this black & white upside-down painting. it looks striking just as it is...

Crafty Green Poet said...

Your illustration is very striking and your words are interesting, I think you're right, giving is seen as contrarian and for so many people it seems to be about how expeisive the gift is rather than any real thought behind the giving

Crafty Green Poet said...

Your illustration is very striking and your words are interesting, I think you're right, giving is seen as contrarian and for so many people it seems to be about how expeisive the gift is rather than any real thought behind the giving

Peggi Habets Studio said...

Very nice. Powerful in it's simplicity.

Tangled Stitch said...

What a beautiful piece. It is lovely. So much talent.

Barbara Hagerty said...

Sad, but true. There's a lot of giving going on, but unfortunately, much of it isn't of the selfless variety. Too often we give to those WE need, instead of to those Who need. And we're often more concerned with how we're thought of through our gift than how thoughtful we are of the recipient. Very inspired piece!

Laura said...

I find this image very appealing. I like the strong sense of personal symbolism here in your work. This is something I am experimenting with too. I like the way it creates a truly precious and deeply personal result. It is very interesting to learn about your thought process behind this painting. It has great impact. I'm glad you chose to share it for IMT.

Deb G said...

I like it!