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Removing the Thorn
Published: 2012-11-30 07:40:02 +0000 UTC; Views: 31920; Favourites: 2169; Downloads: 0
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Description
Oil on Canvas: 48 x 60.Removing the Thorn came to me in a dream in 2008 when I began to journal about the path of life. In the dream, a white haired man came to my door. Wanting to buy my house on the spot, he handed me a handful of cash. As I invited him inside I explained to him that I was only renting. I offered to show him a map of the area but he didnβt seem too interested. I looked for one anyway while he sat at my dining room table. When I returned with the map, this painting is what I saw sitting in front of him as though he had just painted it. I was drawn in by the unconventional Jesus whose Lordship is not the clipping of claws as we might fear, but rather the digging out of our deepest hindrances so that the lion within us can be liberated. The symbolism of the peacock that emerges from the lionβs chest represents the beauty that comes after we surrender our brokenness to the healer rather than trying to conceal our limp.
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Comments: 258
beautiful work! nice composition, colors and realism
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This is absolutely stunning and inspiring. Wonderful job!
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wow this came out so well. I love the night time-esque lighting of the scene and the blank stare of the weakened lion. Fantastic job on the realism of the piece.
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Thanks. getting models and photographic reference that could actually match this kind of lighting was limited, so my expectations for realism were subordinate to my overall message s thanks for your encouraging words.
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no problem! keep the the great work. even though it was tough, the end result made the struggle worth it
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Congratulations for the Daily Deviation ^_^
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Even in the thumbnail I sensed that there was something very "heaven-kissed" about this image. The most fascinating thing ever is when artists portray the Lord in very practical, down-to-earth, even blue collar ways, which is exactly how I imagine Him. This is a wonderful kind of peculiar. Perfection!
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As an athiest, I have to say I love this painting, and what it means to you. It's really cool on both fronts.
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Thank you, as an agnostic, I respect the atheist. I was raised a Christian, but there is a part of me that really wants to break dogma. For some, the thorn may actually represent religious dogma.
You sound like an unthreatened atheist. I like that you had the freedom to look into my perspective without emotions coming into play.
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This reminded me of Androcles [link] before i even opened the thumbnail and saw it was a thorn he was removing
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Wow, nice painting and I love the story behind it! I wish my dreams where as useful as that...
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I have written a lot of dreams down over he years. There is this painting and two other ones from dreams that I still have to paint. This one was definitely the most vivid, so I wish I could extract more from dreams as well. They are so perfect for the visual dialogue because of the symbolic language your mind uses.
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Beautiful work.. though the symbolism is nothing for me
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thanks for your honesty. The symbolism I described is my interpretation only.
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I've dreamt of white collars workers being injected with blood till near exhaustion by dancing nurses and then getting their intestines ripped off just so that they could be worshiped on top of a dead tree near a river bank by the said nurses and workers.
I have a very messed up mind.
But great picture though.
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Its interesting that the tree is dead while being so close to a river. an inability to drink in the good. Same with the blood. getting good, but being force fed to the point his body just can't take it. He's backfiring like the tree by the water. He's got the good job, but he's dying from the inside out.
It's interesting that the distress and calamity is what exalts him in the end, when he's got nothing left to give.
My son and I were talking today about artists who make it big by selling out. One guy made thousands of Loons for expo 86. He made a fortune but lost his purpose in the process. he killed himself a few years later. Money is to the bank, what water is to a tree, what blood is to the body. That's where I would start with that dream, but it's incomplete because the emotional aspect is pretty key, and that's where you have to do interpreting for yourself.
If these dreams of yours are vivid, I recommend journaling the main ones. The journaling seems to stimulate more dreaming or possibly it sends your brain a cue to remember more of them.
No matter how bizarre the dreams, your mind is making an effort to piece a narrative together to help you digest your waking thoughts and attitudes.
Thanks for commenting n my painting.
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Your interpretation makes sense. Never fully understood my
dream although he had reminiscence to video artworks such as
Bill Viola or Shirin Neshat.
The irony of this is that I studied art and that I should have
interpreted myself but I guess your words sure help me.
Unfortunately, I never had any other kind of dreams after that
except maybe some sexual ones or ones that I easily forgot.
Where did you study art?
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I studied at UFV, here in BC. Illustration and design.
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Wow, this is really gorgeous and the dream you had that inspired it sounded beautiful in itself <3
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Excellent metaphor my friend! Great work!
Indeed, why go on limping when it is better to let the Healer mend our wounds?
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Beautiful concept and understanding. Well done.
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I'm elated and honored to have this monstrosity featured. I'm grateful for all your comments, critiques, different views. Discussion is where I want my art to land. I've had the privilege to have some sweet one on one conversations with a number of visitors to Vancouver over this painting.
I'm stoked today that it got shared with an even broader network. A network of artists - even better.
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gorgeous. I appreciate the spiritual nature you've eloquently embedded into the painting. The astonished expression on the lion's face is something I can identify with instantly. Touching. Thank you.
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I read the description, and I'm not into religion, but reading it entirely I can't agree more with what you said, the idea you tried to express. genius work. Really. I like simbolims and when the artist says the meanings of the elements in the picture.
Its fantastic.
Amazing job.
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This instantly captured my attention. Moving is the only word I can find to describe how it made me feel. Fantastic job.
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O_O hey i... um... have a thorn too.....
damn he's hot <3 <3 <3
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The male model is Jason Momoa ?
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Hahaha. I work in vancouver. I used to see Jason around once and a while. On his deck having a smoke a few floors up. That was 7 or 8 years ago.
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So much symbolism went into this... thank you, you've just greatly inspired me!
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Ok, this is the coolest Jesus ever!
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Congratulations on your well-deserved DD!!!
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This is absolutely beautiful! It reminded me of Jesus even before reading the description, not just because of the beard and hair, but mainly the tenderness and compassion He's showing. Beautiful symbolism!
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Precious brother! i don't want to bother you with my question, but are you christian???? because i see something really precious behind this master piece!
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This is just, like, oh my gosh... dude. You... OK, I give up trying to put this into words. XD
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This is just amazing. I don't know why but the lion looks dead to me. The description is equally as amazing as the painting. "God is good."
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gloriously beautiful. wonderful story as well. Thank you for sharing
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This is so beautiful, in so many ways.
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Wow... that's so beautiful and so full of depth and symbolism, you truly earned this Daily Deviation~ ^^
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