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| https://tomsarmo.blogspot.com |
Acrylic on wood panel. 8.5" x 12" in handmade frame.
This was painted for Creator Mundi's 30th Year Celebration. I have admired--and tried to emulate-- Saint Francis of Assisi because of his joyful work for the Common Good, and his message of peace; peace not only between people, but peace between man and the environment.
Recently viewed the Wim Wenders film, "Pope Francis - A Man of His Word", and loved it for that very emphasis. Pope Francis, and the message of Saint Francis of Assisi, are antidotes to the destructive and divisive actions of the current resident of the White House, of many in Congress, and the propaganda of hate media--antidotes to the poison of all those who refuse to work for the Common Good because of their thirst for money, power, and chaos.
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| https://tomsarmo.blogspot.com |
This painting began as a direct drawing on a reddish-painted wood panel. I used a brush and black acrylic paint, correcting the errant lines with the red gesso ground.
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| https://tomsarmo.blogspot.com |
Then gray paint was used to establish the values.
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| https://tomsarmo.blogspot.com |
The completed "grisaille" painting prior to the addition of colored glazes shown in the first image above.
From the Creator Mundi site:
"Francis encountered God in all of God’s creation and is for this reason now honored as the patron saint of animals, ecology and the environment (as well as the state of Colorado, the Archdiocese of Denver, the city of San Francisco and innumerable other causes). The fact that Cardinal Bergoglio has taken the name “Francis” as his papal name seems to augur his intent to carry out a program of radical reform of the Church. For Christ spoke from the crucifix of San Damiano in 1204 to Saint Francis in a mystical vision and commanded him to “rebuild my church.”
Not only will Pope Francis rebuild the badly damaged Catholic Church, but it's my hope that his message will re-build and fire the passion in me and in others to work for the Common Good and soundly reject the hatred and greed that threaten all people everywhere.
Check out the film--it's message is universal. No matter your faith, if you believe in the power of love and hope over hatred and despair, it will energize you.
Thanks for reading!
