Lion of Judah

Lion of Judah
12" x 12"
Acrylic on Aquaboard
Commission
NFS

I was thrilled when I was asked to paint a portrait of a lion: a nice break from farm animals and pets.  I adore painting all types of animals, but this one offered a special challenge: how to paint a lion strong yet welcoming?  In history, literature and life, a lion has been a symbol of strength, leadership, loyalty, royalty and honor.  In the Bible, The Lion Of Judah is a symbol of Jesus Christ:   "Jesus is commonly referred to as the 'overcoming one' and 'the one qualified to open the scrolls and seven seals.'  According to the Book of Revelation 5:5,  Jesus was the 'sacrificial Lamb' and the 'Lion of Judah.'  The prophecy of the coming of the Lord to 'judge the world' as the Lion of Judah is clear all through Revelation 5: 1-5." (http://www.buzzle.com/articles/what-does-the-lion-of-judah-represent.html).   The only time I remember a lion referred to as "cowardly" was in The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum.  Even then, in the end, the Cowardly Lion discovers he has had courage the whole time--he just wasn't giving himself credit for it.  In yoga, the lion pose (Simhasana) is one in which, if done properly, shows no shame.  In essence, you take a strong kneeling pose, widen your eyes,  open your jaw as far as possible, stretch your tongue out and down, and, finally, roar as loud as possible.  In nature, a lion is able to spot danger and head it straight on full force.  A lion teaches us that when we are faced with insurmountable struggles,  we need to find our inner lion, roar and face our challenges despite our fears.  Now that takes courage!

King of the Sketch

I was recently with a 13 year old girl whom I love very much and admire tremendously.   She is shrouded in privacy, so I can't reveal who she is to me.  But I can say that she is an amazing artist who gets better by the minute, because she literally draws every second she possibly can.  I've seen her even use a scrap piece of paper and the bottom of her shoe as a drafting table.  Whenever something is in her head, she just has to get it out.  I wish I could show you one of her drawings, but she is extremely protective with them and only lets a lucky few see them.  I am one of the lucky ones who are blessed and inspired by her tenacious drawing produces.
On a recent trip home, I found myself with a ton of time to on my hands.  I watched her no-stop sketching and decided to pick up a pencil and pad myself.  I haven't sketched in several years, even though I have been painting.  It was so relaxing to watch the pencil move quickly but cautiously across the page.  Scribble here. Line there.  Should this be darker?  Does that look weird?  His nose is too long.  The shadow is wrong.  It was a process that took me right into the present.
I don't necessarily think this lion sketch is the greatest.  But it does represent a moment in time where I let loose for an hour and just let the lead flow.  I have found myself sketching a bit more---mostly basic apples, spheres, bowls of eggs--mainly to study the importance of lights and darks to apply to my painting.  You can't feel the depth of a pig's eye socket or the meaty nose of a cow without the highlights and the shadows.
I guess there is something to that theory in life: putting together our bright times and dark times to create a whole, solid life that looks like you could actually touch it.  Enjoy your moment: now.  www.TracieSeedArt.com