Tea for Tue: Our Lady of Guadalupe

Two years ago today, I painted this picture on the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  Here is the story that goes with the painting.

The Prayer

Three of us stand with canvases and easels in my friend's tiny home.  Her plush black cat looks on with ancient wisdom shining behind her benevolent and mildly curious gaze.  A stool in the corner holds brushes and paints.  I have never painted before.  Not on canvas.  We begin with a story and a journey.  And we begin with a prayer. Which writes itself in charcoal on my canvas.  We drum the canvas and we bathe it in rose water to invite the prayer in.

Did I mention?  It is the feast day of Guadalupe.

The Vision

I see her in my mind's eye.  She fills the cosmos.  She is woven into the fabric of the universe.  She is so big, I can only see her face and shoulders.  She is too big for me to see all of her.

The Painting

Over the prayer, the painting begins to emerge.  The face takes on shape from the prayer and the rayos, the corona around her, takes on a color I did not expect.  The Roses explode from her dress in all directions, merging with the cosmos.  And her hair...most surprising of all to me...her hair is white.

Painting Update

I did a little more work on the painting I started in December.

Here's a link to my on line painting journal.  In Blessed Mother's House

And here is a photo comparison of the work I did on December 12th, and the work I did on Wednesday February 3rd.

Wednesday was glazing day.  hee hee.

comparison before glazing on the left, and after glazing on the right.

I also learned how to get paint off of car upholstery.

I used rubbing alcohol and it came right out, even 24 hours later.

;^) 






Now after glazing, she appears much more to be La Morena.

#gettingcloser

Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe

I am neither Catholic, nor of Mexican heritage, and yet Our Lady of Guadalupe has come into my life more than once.  Her legend is beautiful and profound, and so when a friend of mine suggested three of us meet on the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe to paint her image, I felt deeply honored to participate.

Especially, since I am not a painter.

Anyone who is familiar with the iconic image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, would maybe point out that she does not have white hair, but this is how she presented herself to me.  And why wouldn't she be all things to all people.

There wasn't enough time for me to finish it today, but through the process of painting The Lady, I am finding a love for painting.  I hope I am brave enough to continue.