©2004-2008 ~thiscatharticnail
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Submitted: Oct 18, 2004
Image Size: 1.2 MB
Resolution: 891×1500
Comments: 18
Favourites & Collections: 23 [who?]
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Total: 1,116
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Submitted: Oct 18, 2004
Image Size: 1.2 MB
Resolution: 891×1500
Comments: 18
Favourites & Collections: 23 [who?]
Views
Total: 1,116
Today: 1
Embed
Thumb
Artist's Comments
My largest inspiration when it comes to art is my spirituality.
While I have many beliefs when it comes to this, all drawn from different sources, the one that stands out the most is Kabbalah.
I am not a Kabbalist proper, but I have adopted many of it's philosophies and opinions on God. I came across it while i was going through rough times, and applied everything i read about it to the way i view myself through my art. It has given me a reverence for art that some may even construe to be worship.
I pray through my art, and i guide my thoughts through it.
This image is not my newest, but is the best example i have ever created that reflects my thoughts on my spirituality. It is a representation of the Tree of Life, which is one of the most important symbols in Kabbalah. In very braod layman's terms, it is a universal "How to" for creation. It is made of three columns, the outer ones representing female (formative) and male (creative) energies, and the middle column represents balance.
I know the contest meant to show a world, but i can think of no better "world" for my spirituality than my church, which is my art. I patterned the style after Da Vinci's sketchbooks. I feel the world of spiritual art is best represented by a sketchbook, so i made this to the best of my ability like a page in a sketchbook, though with more depth and refinement. Spirituality should evolve, and in my opinion never be a definite thing. To label yourself as "I am this" is to set limitations on yourself. Sketches can be works of art on their own, but always portray greater potential, which is how i feel spirituality should be.
The symbolism is too lengthy to describe here, but this image represents above all else my faith and hope in my spirituality, that i might transcend my ego and rise to a higher level of being, whether that's heaven or just contentment with all i have around me.
Stock Credits:
~aleksandra-stock , ~dreamstock , * JensStockCollection , *melvinkobe , ~ t-gar-stock , ~WitheredStock , ~ tinderstock , ~wazaloo-stock , ~zommy , *black-rainbow
While I have many beliefs when it comes to this, all drawn from different sources, the one that stands out the most is Kabbalah.
I am not a Kabbalist proper, but I have adopted many of it's philosophies and opinions on God. I came across it while i was going through rough times, and applied everything i read about it to the way i view myself through my art. It has given me a reverence for art that some may even construe to be worship.
I pray through my art, and i guide my thoughts through it.
This image is not my newest, but is the best example i have ever created that reflects my thoughts on my spirituality. It is a representation of the Tree of Life, which is one of the most important symbols in Kabbalah. In very braod layman's terms, it is a universal "How to" for creation. It is made of three columns, the outer ones representing female (formative) and male (creative) energies, and the middle column represents balance.
I know the contest meant to show a world, but i can think of no better "world" for my spirituality than my church, which is my art. I patterned the style after Da Vinci's sketchbooks. I feel the world of spiritual art is best represented by a sketchbook, so i made this to the best of my ability like a page in a sketchbook, though with more depth and refinement. Spirituality should evolve, and in my opinion never be a definite thing. To label yourself as "I am this" is to set limitations on yourself. Sketches can be works of art on their own, but always portray greater potential, which is how i feel spirituality should be.
The symbolism is too lengthy to describe here, but this image represents above all else my faith and hope in my spirituality, that i might transcend my ego and rise to a higher level of being, whether that's heaven or just contentment with all i have around me.
Stock Credits:
~aleksandra-stock , ~dreamstock , * JensStockCollection , *melvinkobe , ~ t-gar-stock , ~WitheredStock , ~ tinderstock , ~wazaloo-stock , ~zommy , *black-rainbow
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Devious Comments
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Greetz,
Aka Alias
-=?=-
By what I feel, it brings forward the ancient incoming force you carry within you.
For your art, thank you.
It was good for me seeing it in this moment.
nice.
i think you should win, bhut then again. im biased. 93's
--
Ameas Qua.
[link] "Nobody Knows I'm Bi Anyway"
thanks, as always, man.
but it's very morbid in style - pretty dark. it appears less of a sketchbook page, more grungy; a bit like himynameiznate's stuff. that isn't necessarily a bad thing, but i think some (possibly many) kabbalists could be offended by it, not unlike the way some catholics (or christians in general) are offended by (or recoil from) imagery in The Prophecy. i understand some of the symbolism behind this (from the little i've learned from my jewish friends over the years), and in that regard i think it's deeply inspired and well executed in terms of the use of symbols, but the major weakness (conceptually) is that the style doesn't really fit with the ideas, from what i understand of them. if it were smoother... sharper, i think that would help it a great deal.
a note on kabbalah.
it's becoming a new fad that seems to distort or trivialize the meaning behind the beliefs and rituals, similar to the WWJD bracelets. i would discourage anyone from becoming associated with the mass marketing involved with it - the so-called kabbalah-lite. this clearly doesn't come close to that.
--
i know it looks grungy, and that even though i was inspired by da vinci's sketchbooks, i resolved to have the photographs still look photorealistic, but sketchy at the same time. it does give it a morbid look, but i still think it suffices.
i found my spirituality through suffering, and this is actually one in a series of images about that journey. as far as that series is concerned, thsi is teh bright one, because it's the only one that doesn't have a heavy use of black in it. even then, it was a statement about my beliefs, but born out of pain, which is why the heart is rather gross looking.
i don't think it would be offensive given the context it is supposed to be used in. it was hard trying to explain my reasons for this picture outside of the context, because i even extrapolated on Kabbalistic ideas in the creation of this. the original title is "the Crown of Tiphareth", which is a concept (as far as i have applied it) i have not found anywhere else, and was the result of my contemplation on the subject.
if you are interested, please visit [link] and [link] for an explanation of the concepts (lyrics and art respectively, though they are interconnected)
i am also grateful my application of my kabbalistic knowledge comes across as honest, as opposed to the rising fad in hollywood. i had started studying this a few years ago, and as soon as Madonna made it popular, i was worried that my work woudl be seen as following that bandwagon by association.
i checked out himynameisnate's stuff and was very impressed, thanks for that.
thanks again,
Dennis
as long as you have informed discussions with people, i don't think you risk any danger of being associated with the red string crew in hollywood and elsewhere. you seem sincere, which i'm glad to see.
yeah, nate's a cool dude. very talented. he and i have had plently of lively discussions about religion/faith and even a little politics. i'm not sure how involved with da he is anymore, but a few years ago (back when i was really involved) he was one of the nicest people on here.
--
--
....see tomorrow....
....feel today....
....say goodbye to yesterday....
....feel no sorrow....
....just be free....
....total ecstasy....
....tomorrow....
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