The painting is beautiful - the flow and blend of the brushstrokes across the arm immediately caught my eye. The story is heartbreaking, as is the trauma that ensued.
But, this is why we need art (and SLART). To tell the stories on behalf of those who might not be able to speak up on their own. Powerful work.
I'm going to write out my initial impressions before I read your thoughts and motivations, SLART. Whilst scanning the image initially, trying to grok its wholeness (it was too big for me to see all in one screen, so I smalled it), I confess I read the title. I tend toward words rather than images so the title cues me a certain way but it's very open-ended. Next, I notice what looks to me like a crib--what you call a "cot" (for a young child or baby). (I had to look up what it was called in British English!)
The two figures are maybe a mother and you as a child, I think to myself, because of the title and what looks like a cot to me. The purple shape gets my attention next. It looks variously like amethyst crystals, a mushroom, and an hourglass to me.
Then my attention goes to the big pink hand. Much easier to decipher. Then to the shapes (as I'd call them, knowing there's a better "art" word for them) along the sides, top and bottom that frame the image but are in some ways much more active than that sounds, shapelier and sensuous, the colors wonderful, flowing but each part distinct with a sense of depth at the center where it's dark grey, almost a womblike, long-past image you've drawn from memory (even though you've told us you've a reference photo) and I am surprised to find these shapes easier to relate to in the abstract than the concrete images at the center. OK, now I'm gonna read your thoughts and motivations. I love this exercise!
Thank thank thank you! As you do, I really appreciate when people get into the spirit of my question in the comments section. You really were quite intuitive when first seeing the painting.
And you had to get it out in art, too! Wow. Wow! The similarities between what I grokked and what the image is about are stunning to me. And what I missed, of course! Yet the shapes, those shapes--they are speaking about the experience of both abandonment and care to me now. PS: I wager James was possibly more securely attached than you but also possibly used to being abandoned so numb. Two interpretations arise for me.
Yes that’s true, James had his own stuff going on as well. I just had such an insecure attachment that you wouldn’t believe! More formative stories next week!
I'm grateful that you shared this.
The painting is beautiful - the flow and blend of the brushstrokes across the arm immediately caught my eye. The story is heartbreaking, as is the trauma that ensued.
But, this is why we need art (and SLART). To tell the stories on behalf of those who might not be able to speak up on their own. Powerful work.
I’m grateful for you Steve!
Thank you. Like many others, I didn’t really like it too much at first but it’s nice looking back with new eyes and loving it.
You are so right. I am going to print your note out and post it on my wall.
Have the best day.
Thank you again.
That's incredibly meaningful. Thank you - and for sharing that - it's greatly appreciated 🙏
❤️
Don’t be embarrassed. I understand the feeling of exposure very well. Risk taking is elemental. You doing it gives me courage
Thank you for the reaffirmation message. I know you’re right, I see it in others writing but often forget in my own. How are you doing?
❤️ I’d missed seeing this when you’d posted it. Just wow.
Thanks so much, I really appreciate you spending your time reading my work. I don’t ever take it for granted.
I don’t really speak much about adoption stuff, but there’s a lot of people out there who have been adopted and perhaps unknowingly affected by it. ❤️
I'm going to write out my initial impressions before I read your thoughts and motivations, SLART. Whilst scanning the image initially, trying to grok its wholeness (it was too big for me to see all in one screen, so I smalled it), I confess I read the title. I tend toward words rather than images so the title cues me a certain way but it's very open-ended. Next, I notice what looks to me like a crib--what you call a "cot" (for a young child or baby). (I had to look up what it was called in British English!)
The two figures are maybe a mother and you as a child, I think to myself, because of the title and what looks like a cot to me. The purple shape gets my attention next. It looks variously like amethyst crystals, a mushroom, and an hourglass to me.
Then my attention goes to the big pink hand. Much easier to decipher. Then to the shapes (as I'd call them, knowing there's a better "art" word for them) along the sides, top and bottom that frame the image but are in some ways much more active than that sounds, shapelier and sensuous, the colors wonderful, flowing but each part distinct with a sense of depth at the center where it's dark grey, almost a womblike, long-past image you've drawn from memory (even though you've told us you've a reference photo) and I am surprised to find these shapes easier to relate to in the abstract than the concrete images at the center. OK, now I'm gonna read your thoughts and motivations. I love this exercise!
Cot, yes! Ha!
Thank thank thank you! As you do, I really appreciate when people get into the spirit of my question in the comments section. You really were quite intuitive when first seeing the painting.
I came back here to read what others have interpreted!
And you had to get it out in art, too! Wow. Wow! The similarities between what I grokked and what the image is about are stunning to me. And what I missed, of course! Yet the shapes, those shapes--they are speaking about the experience of both abandonment and care to me now. PS: I wager James was possibly more securely attached than you but also possibly used to being abandoned so numb. Two interpretations arise for me.
Grokked, I love this word.
Yes that’s true, James had his own stuff going on as well. I just had such an insecure attachment that you wouldn’t believe! More formative stories next week!