This piece is a privately commissioned work by a client who asked me to paint “Shalom” peace for his home. He also asked if he could pray for me before I painted, so on Easter Sunday I phoned him from the front verandah of the studio, and as he prayed a small white feather fluttered before me and landed at my feet. Yes we do have chooks around Brooklyn, however the air was as still as still could be with clear blue skies, the chickens do not go anywhere near the verandah and there was not another feather in sight. Whatever your theology is on feathers from heaven, I was encouraged!
As I painted I sensed a breaking out, busting through, but gently – if there’s a word for that? – as if the spirit realm was manifesting into the natural. Almost like the Star Trek “beam me up” except it was beaming through. Of course I had to paint the feather in the painting, especially as to me feathers represent the prayers of the saints. The orbs in this painting represent the ministering angels that come to fulfil God’s words as we speak them. The rich turmoil of the blue underpainting represents humanity and our need for Shalom. And Shalom of course is the complete fullness of peace, everything aligned as it should be according to the word of God and as it is in Heaven, peace, health, prosperity, goodness, favor, friendship, perfect, safe, happy, rest, wholly complete.
The suggestion of the wings in the painting are from my favourite verse Malachi 4:2,
But to you who fear My name
The Sun of Righteousness shall arise
With healing in His wings;
And you shall go out
And grow fat like stall-fed calves.
The poppies, representing remembrance, were my finishing touches to the painting. The next day as I prepared the canvas for the final varnish I counted the poppies. I had painted 49, ie 7×7, ie the number for resurrection, spiritual completeness, the Father’s perfection, deliverance and salvation. There are 7 orbs. Seven is the number of Seals, Churches in Revelations, kingdoms of influence (or ‘mountains’ of influence). There are 7 wheat sheaths, representing harvest, and the gold represents the descending glory of God’s presence.
AND – apart from all the mysteries and symbolism contained within the artwork – the colours are perfectly aligned with the client’s home and other pieces of artwork. Ha, God you are good!
