Well this was my experience with this painting. Initially after I did the acrylic pour and the painting was dry, I didn't like the result for some or other reason. It felt hollow and meaningless and it needed something to give it meaning and tell a story. I decided to hang it on my lounge wall anyway where I could see it every day, not that I looked at it all the time. Every now and again in passing the painting my eye will catch sight of it. Eventually this painting started to grow on me and I liked it more and more, but at the same time I knew that it needed something. That something that will tell a story or make a statement. I didn't know what this something was, so I just left the painting hanging on the wall until such time that I knew what was lacking. The painting will eventually 'tell' me what it needed to be completed. So days and a couple of weeks passed by. One day when I got up from the couch and my eyes caught sight of the painting a thought of someone blowing came to mind and then I knew what the painting needed.
I played around with different ideas...one of a woman blowing something and the other image of a child blowing something. A couple of days passed by and my mind and soul decided that it needed to be a child and the title of the painting came at the same time. I sealed the acrylic pouring and proceeded to paint the child blowing the "Seeds Of Peace".
You might ask "Why did you decide on the child?"...Well to me children are all born innocent and they learn impatience, aggression, selfishness, no respect and all the other bad stuff from adults because we are their example. My biggest desire would be peace on earth...peace between countries, peace between different races and people in general. I personally believe that greed, selfishness, intolerance and not having respect for self and others are some of the main culprits responsible for war, fights and crime.
Initially the child in the photograph was wearing a camouflage hat and this to me was the exact opposite of my intention and meaning in the painting. Camouflage clothing and gear to me means war and hunting. I thus decided to change the colour of the hat to green, as green to me represents renewal, growth, nature, energy, harmony, freshness, safety, healing power. Green is soothing, relaxing, youthful and it brings a sense of hope, self-control, compassion and harmony...all of these playing a role in achieving peace.
The child, whom is born innocent, is blowing the seeds of peace into the world.
"Spreading Seeds Of Peace"
Mixed media
45 x 121 x 4cm gallery wrapped canvas.
