After spending hours creating a painting, I like to experiment with ways that maximize the potential of the new creation. As an example, upon completion of this work of art entitled, “Friendship”, I took photos of it from different angles, developed them and made interesting greeting cards.
Next, my critiquing eye, floated around, then posed the question, “What more can I do to enhance this interesting floral arrangement, so it does not look so flat?” With time, an idea came. “Might silver glitter glue help?” With that in mind, I applied silver glitter glue in rapid thin swirls through each flower and down the stems. The effect was amazing. The flowers sparkled, popped, and took on a rich, new personality. I myself even felt the radiant sparkle and glowed. Those results cause me to wonder and question even more, “Is there a deeper relationship here between glitter glue and the theme of friendship?”
In my view there are definite parallels. Friends like flowers, are gifted people in our lives who sparkle like glitter glue. They offer hope, acceptance, kindness which can perk up any flower. Such relationships bring joy and glue to our lives, help us “hold it together” when we feel wilted, thirsty or dry. Friends transmit that ingredient. They “sparkle” whether it is visible or not, it is there. They are there.
In a similar way, Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) a medieval Benedictine abbess, who was recognized as a mystic, visionary, and composer in her time wrote, “Every creature is a glittering mirror of divinity” which speaks volumes in a magnificent, creative way, of us as “glittering” creatures who mirror divinity. What a profound understanding of God’s creation!
Painting itself, is very much about establishing a relationship, a “friendship” with the process in whatever way it presents itself, in whatever way the spirit moves me, and there are “glitter” and “glue” moments. It is a risk, but I approach the canvas with the greatest abandon I can muster, to enter a spontaneous, reflective, transforming process. It is a dance in which I say, “I believe. Help my disbelief”.
The 19th century Impressionist sculptor, painter Degas wrote, “Art is not what you see but what you make others see”. I cannot make others see per se, but I can encourage others to use the lens of art, to discover the mystery of relationships in our evolving universe.
"In this Universe, relationships are all there is, the fundamental prerequisite for anything to manifest." taken from So Far From Home, Margaret J. Wheatley
- Sister Patricia St. Louis, csj