Saturday 18 February 2017

Gratitude 18

I am immensely grateful for peacocks.  From my website, Gentle Reader:

1.   2001-2006
"Peacock in Arabesque"
acrylic,  48"x36"

 Shining in the night
guarding eternal portals
where we must enter



2.   2005-2006
"White Peacock"
acrylic,   48"x36
SOLD

 The glory of white
speaks in distinct metaphor
of our soul's longing 




3.   2006
"Pavo real (Royal Turkey)"
acrylic, 18"x24"

Peacock a cliche
of proud arrogant splendour
a royal turkey 
  
William Blake said in his Proverbs of Hell that the "Pride of the Peacock is the Glory of God."  This brings to mind how often we project our own human characterisitics onto other living things.
Instead of seeing the unmatched beauty of these gorgeous birds our vision is often eclipsed by conferring onto them  our own flaws and weaknesses of pride, vainglory and vanity. 
Here is another take on the peacock that I enjoy: they have historically been regarded as symbols of the resurrection of Christ and as symbols of healing, purity and eternal life.
Peacocks for me beg to be painted.  I have never tackled a subject so challenging nor from which in each painting I've learned something new about colour, composition and light.
I don't see the peacock as a proud bird and I am sure that they never look at mirrors.  Perhaps they can serve as a mirror for us to look into.

4.   2004
"Javanese Green Peacock"
 Peacock, Dragon Bird
you bronze and golden armour
has blinded tigers


The Green Peafowl is not widely known in the west.  There are three sub-species ranging from Indonesia in the east to Burma in the west.  They are slightly larger than their blue cousins, with longer neck and legs.  Their plumage is also more brilliant and more iridescent.  They are more difficult to keep in captivity because they are delicate and also because the males are particularly savage.  They will fight each other to the death, attack other birds and other animals and will even go after people.



 5.   2007
"Blood Orange"
acrylic,   36"x24"

 Sacrificial fires
will not refuse offerings
made in faith and love



6.   2005
"Enigma"
acrylic, 48"x36"

The peacock watches
and the raven desires the
red pomegranate 



7.   2003
"Vigil"
acrylic,   48"x36"

They watch together,
peacock, candle flame and
their dark offspring shadow



8.   2000-2002
"Perigrinaje"
acrylic,   36"x24"

Their colours shining
in this steep mountain ascent
above, eagles soar



9.   2003
"Golden Pheasants on the Manicured Lawn of Heaven"
acrylic, 48"x36"

On eternal lawns
they shine in endless daylight
without fear or dread



10.   2005
"Cardinal Points"
acrylic, 48"x36"

                                        They rule us unseen
                                   dancing across fiery lawn
that ordain our lives



11.   2008
 "El pavo real que haya perdido el camino a Alajuela"
acrylic,   30"X20"


  12.   2008
                           "Dragon Bird with Orchids"                             
                                         acrylic,   30"x30"



         

13.   2008
"Himalayan Monal"
      acrilic, 22" x 28

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