Soul Tenders…
It is impossible for an artist to make sense while explaining where
their inspiration comes from. As if I am watching it on a three
dimensional color movie screen, my imagination allows me to see my
ideas. I literally saw “Soul Tenders”, before I painted it. The title
came at the same time. Where did the idea come from? I don’t really
know. Some philosophers believe that spirits whisper to the mind. In
ancient times, they called these spirits muses. In modern times the same
thing is called channeling. Whether the ideas and images that form my
art come from inside my own mind or from the whisperings of a muse, it
matters not. It is only the fact that ideas indeed manifest and I am
able to produce works of art from those ideas. That, in its self, is a
gift I never take for granted.
I have spent the better part of my adult life studying history and
religious beliefs of people around the world from ancient times to
present. In every culture, there is a common legend that at the time of
death, birds accompany the soul on its return journey to the Creator.
There is also a universal belief in angels. The painting, “Soul Tenders”
depicts white birds delivering souls (represented by the gold balls)
into the keeping of angels who will care for the souls until the Creator
is ready to receive them. There are large souls and small souls. This
leaves interpretation up to the viewer as to whether souls grow large
through multiple lives (reincarnation) or that a large soul belongs to a
person who has lived a long life. Many religious beliefs include some
form of reincarnation. Even those religions that don’t - still have a
concept of an after life – which is, in the broadest sense, a form of
reincarnation.
Virtually everyone believes the essence of a person (the soul) lives on
after death. The real question for most people – “What is death?”
Through all my study, I wound up asking myself these questions; “Where
were we before we were born?” -- “Do we return to that same place when
we die?” and “If we were somewhere before we were born, then don’t we
also have to be somewhere when we die?” I think it is as simple as that.
Death is as natural as birth and in the cycle of things, death probably
is birth. I hope you enjoy “Soul Tenders” and that it gives you comfort
that death is nothing to fear. It is our Creator’s plan and part of
everyone’s cycle of life.
The original “Soul Tenders” is a 16x20 inch collage’ made from cut and
torn papers, enhanced with acrylic paint. The painting touched me so
deeply as I was “creating”, that it remains in my possession and will
eventually be passed down to a worthy family member.
Sara L. Hanlon
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