fearnot

Fear Not - SOLD
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'Fear Not' SOLD
18" x 24" X 2"
Back stapled with finished sides
Thick Box canvas, Ready to hang
Oil Painting
$575.00

Here is the quote that inspired the work:
“When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it
becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.”
~Audre Lorde
***
‘Fear not’ started after I read this quote, and while not thinking about anything in
particular, I sketched this lovely queen. She is ready for battle with her crown of spikes,
and over her head are the last words she spoke to herself and the people in her charge
before commencing to the good fight. “I am not afraid, I was born for this.” What is she
fighting? Why is she wearing this strange crown of silver? Is she marshaling her forces
for battle or is she fighting unknown forces within herself? I guess that will be left up to
the person who wants to live with her. She had a face in the original drawing, but as we
added the oil color ( I say we because I felt her come to life as the color went on the
canvas, she worked with me and together we completed this work) as I continued to lay
in the background and the color, I sensed she was another painting in my people
without a face works. I like the facelessness of these paintings, they allow the people in
them to be and become whomever and whatever is needed or seen by the viewer. They
allow a resting point in the work for the eye. They allow the symbolism to come to the
forefront. I see the attitude and full expression of each person I paint in the tilt of the
chin. I want to leave no other trace of myself, except for the exceptional quality of that
one line, the chin, to tell you everything about what is going on inside each of their
worlds. I will continue to paint in this fashion; the faceless people, because I am
compelled to learn why and what is behind basic human nature. I feel that the
facelessness of these works allows them to be anything and everything for everyone.
They are not ambiguous; they are full of expression and stories to tell. They do not
invoke fear, they instead speak to what is common in all humans, under the skin, under
the upbringing or nationality, our pasts and our fears. They represent the best of being
a human being, that under it all and because of it all; we are one, we are human, and that
one small fact could unite the globe in love not fear and war. I guess they are my
deepest wish for every human being alive and yet to be born, that we all be free to
become what we are meant to be. And that what we become will be valued not shunned,
that we are all important so our education as a valuable soul would be the most
important element to our growth; that the pretty and the rich, the haves and the have
not's will cease to exist. Of course this is all pure fantasy in this reality, but if no one is
willing to dream the dream anymore, I welcome the task. I will dream the dream, and I will
speak of it often. Freedom for all human kind is my mantra. It is my cause. I will stand on
the battlefield, I will wear the crown, I will speak of love, truth, valor, honor and beauty
until the day that I pass from this earth. Because of one simple fact; I am not afraid, I was
born for this.
***
I finished this work just before leaving for a vacation in the woods by the green lake. I
spent the entire vacation thinking and not creating anything at all. I spent the entire
vacation laughing, eating, swimming, taking pictures, playing with my family, and
enjoying being alive. I come back to this world feeling lighter and ready to get back to
work on my life’s mission. I left my stress and fear in the branches of the living oak
trees. I tossed my weariness to the bluegills that swam at the lakes edge. I brought back
the serenity of green water so warm and clear and yet so cold and dark that you will
never see the bottom. I brought back birdsong, insect melodies, and cool breezes off
the lake on the hottest of summer days. I brought back myself, the part of me that wants
to run from the stress of trying to make it in this world. I came back with a real sense of
what “making it” means, looks like and feels to me. I am back inside my skin, comfortable
and happy. I spent a little more than a week praying in my church, my church being the
temple of Mother Nature. I feel better, a little more relaxed (because I can never really
fully relax) and more fearless than ever.
Bring it Universe, I am ready for the next step, wherever that may take me.

I hope you are all having a great day,
and thanks for reading.
Heather

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