I created this ink sketch in Ken Krafchek's "Creating From the Heart" workshop, in response to a familiar passage from sayings of Jesus. Ken read these passages as sources for spontaneous painting, using sayings from the "Gospel of Q."
(The short version of "Q" is that it is thought by many biblical scholars to be a book of Jesus's words, a source common to Matthew and Luke, gospels in the current canon which are similar in many ways. Controversy abounds!)
This sketch may suggest source passages, or it might speak to you in new ways about Jesus and the gospel. The process of creating it was more playful for me than usual, even though the subject isn't an easy one.
What might you say (or draw or paint) in response to this sketch? What would you say (or draw or paint) instead?
Posts
When I look at this image, a scarecrow comes to mind, which seems fitting to me at this time of year. Here, we meet Christ on the cross, his arms outreched -- discouraging the crows from disturbing the crops, which have just been planted during his ministry. I see the smaller crosses at the foot of Christ's cross -- exposed and yet somehow protected by his outreched arms. And yet, in the distance I feel the crows gathering and ominous until the flock is quite large and noisy -- eager to return to the same place each night, to pick and peck at the seeds which are not fully mature. I wonder, will the seedlings ever grow?
ReplyDeleteLike Anonymous, I sense the scarecrow/Christ, but I see all the crows/people at the base of the cross,some cawing/mocking and others moaning and weeping in agony at what they see. Also, it was reminiscent for me of all of the people grabbing at Jesus and begging to be healed and his saying "There's too little of me". There are so many of them. It's interesting to me, Marnie, that it was a more playful process for you, because I feel a lot of pain in the piece, which I certainly could be projecting. I love the place with no paint where the heart of Jesus would be. I am particularly struck by the sheer numbers of people at the base of he cross, which is where we as Christians all end up. It was really evocative of the crowds who followed Jesus wherever he went, the crowd for the Beatitudes, on the way to Jerusalem, as he carried his cross to Golgotha, everywhere he went during his ministry, and now, of all of us who still look to Him and His cross for grace, redemption and forgiveness. Selah.
ReplyDeleteI'm late in replying, Lynn, but I wanted to say a little something about the image seeming painful to you, and yet having been playful for me to paint.
ReplyDeleteOne of the things that I've experienced again and again in making art is that a work will go on to "live its own life". I feel strongly that the viewer's perceptions are as valid as my intention—that both are an important part of the process, and of the work. Also, artwork, even the works that I've made myself, will tell me different things at different times.
I was just listening to Garth Brooks song "Fit for a King" which reminded me of our scarecrow looking painting"
ReplyDelete"He looks like a scarecrow
A sight to behold
As he works for the shepherd
Bringin' lambs to the fold"
After each of us have been through our wilderness experience, we may well look like scarecrows, yet we may well be in a better position to understand the Gospel and lead others to it.