Guardians of the Light
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
<strong>Guardians</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Light</strong>
This world provides us with unending beauty. It is <strong>the</strong> most<br />
precious gift we are given and our artists are charged with<br />
reflecting that beauty back to us in innumerable ways. Art is <strong>the</strong><br />
crucible that cradles and nurtures cultures. Art is <strong>the</strong> vision <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
people.<br />
My creation process as a visual artist is so much more private and<br />
intimate than my experience as a performing artist. Each has its own<br />
intrinsic beauty. Decades <strong>of</strong> touring <strong>the</strong> world as a recording artist/<br />
singer-songwriter, forever in <strong>the</strong> public eye, have given me such a great<br />
appreciation <strong>of</strong> that difference.<br />
The pull <strong>of</strong> a blank canvas, perfectly stretched and prepared, is almost<br />
more than I can bear. It holds a potential that inextricably draws me in. I<br />
come to it with an idea <strong>of</strong> what might lie within and I begin to sketch that
idea, and paint it, at first tentatively, not wanting to spoil <strong>the</strong> perfection <strong>of</strong><br />
what is not yet <strong>the</strong>re. Then <strong>the</strong>re is a moment when <strong>the</strong> painting stirs<br />
and that spark that is life in all that surrounds us, enters <strong>the</strong> piece and<br />
begins to direct me toward who it will become. My paintbrush flies and I<br />
am no longer in charge but simply <strong>the</strong> instrument through which <strong>the</strong> gift<br />
may flow. Just as singing requires that I get out <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> way <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> force<br />
that flows through me and let <strong>the</strong> music speak for itself, so indeed does<br />
<strong>the</strong> painting have its own voice.<br />
Why do I paint portraits? When studying in art school I saw hundreds<br />
upon hundreds <strong>of</strong> portraits <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> wealthy painted by <strong>the</strong> Masters. These<br />
portraits told me only <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir wealth by birthright, not <strong>the</strong>ir wealth in<br />
lives well lived. And so I became drawn to paint those who, in my mind,<br />
are <strong>the</strong> real aristocracy – those who are rich in life and most <strong>of</strong>ten, poor<br />
in material things. For our faces are maps <strong>of</strong> our time here. And most<br />
<strong>of</strong>ten <strong>the</strong> faces with <strong>the</strong> most wisdom burning through <strong>the</strong>ir eyes are<br />
those with many miles and years traveled. The faces that speak to me<br />
and teach me are usually those <strong>of</strong> us who are almost finished with our<br />
time here and closer to going home or those who have just come here,<br />
<strong>the</strong> sublime serenity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> place from which we all come shining<br />
through <strong>the</strong>ir radiant innocence.<br />
I feel privileged to be rich in time to be creative, and blessed with a box<br />
full <strong>of</strong> tubes <strong>of</strong> exquisite colour to play with. I live in absolute gratitude.<br />
Hea<strong>the</strong>r’s Current Series.<br />
The duality <strong>of</strong> this world requires dedication to spirit and our journeys<br />
here. Those who focus on <strong>the</strong> light and continue to bring that light into<br />
<strong>the</strong> darkness are <strong>the</strong> true leaders.<br />
I call this series… <strong>Guardians</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Light</strong>.
Oil on canvas - 40” by 40”
While in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. I came upon <strong>the</strong> Festival <strong>of</strong><br />
Our Lord <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Conquest. Indian conchero dancers dance in front <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> Parroquia from dawn until dusk. The concheros wear elaborately<br />
plumed headdresses and costumes festooned with bright colours and<br />
<strong>the</strong>y dance to <strong>the</strong> heartbeat <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> drums. I was very taken with this<br />
one woman in particular and revisited her several times in my<br />
paintings. The previous page portrait is one <strong>of</strong> 7 studies I did <strong>of</strong> her.
Oil on canvas - 60” by 40”
Oil on canvas 40” by 40”
Oil on canvas 40” by 60”
Oil on canvas 40” by 40”
Oil on canvas 60” by 40”
I continue to explore subjects in this series.<br />
Oil on canvas 40” x 40”
Oil on canvas 44” by 72”
Hea<strong>the</strong>r Bishop. All rights reserved. 2017