Resignation

"Resignation," Oil on illustration board. 24x13.5"

"Res-ig-na-tion: noun

The Acceptance of something undesirable but inevitable."

Fate can be a fickle thing. We like to believe we are meant for something, that we are bound by fate for the trajectory our life takes, or for some greater purpose. That belief tends to be strongest when something positive occurs in our life. We say “it is meant to be”. But when something undesirable occurs in our life, we often find ourselves caught in disbelief. 

We ask ourselves, “How can this be?”, “Why me?” and plead with the skies, “this isn’t supposed to happen!”

Suddenly we don’t want to believe in fate any more.

I don’t particularly believe in a finite, predetermined fate. Rather, I believe in the power of our attitude towards the external forces in our life. Our attitude directly impacts our actions and reactions, and thus, seemingly, our fate. If we accept whatever is thrown at us with grace and dignity, it is neither good nor bad, and it is all “meant to be”.

The Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius says in his Meditations, “Misfortune born nobly is good fortune.”

Detail from "Resignation"

My painting “Resignation” is an allegory for this idea of acceptance. The knight is accepting his fate, albeit his ultimate demise. Even though we are with him at the time of his dying, he is at peace. He in fact embraces the nymph - the personification of his fate - accepting it rather than fighting against it. The two are engaged in a gentle and tender embrace, and his right hand even guides the blade. There is sorrow in their eyes, but he bears his misfortune nobly.

For what can we do to stop the power of fate? We are not in control of the external forces in our life. We are only ever in control of ourselves, but there is perhaps an even greater power in that.

Embrace your fate. All of it.

Hesitance

"Hesitance," oil on board. 16x20"

"Hesitance" is the first piece in a new body of personal work. In the past, I haven't made a habit of blogging about the meaning behind my paintings, but with this new work I intend to. Aside from being created for my portfolio, it also has a deeper personal meaning, and I feel it deserves a companion blog post.

The past year has been a difficult time in my life, and an overarching theme has been change. I had been resistant to that change until recently, when it came to a head. I was forced to face it. This illustration and several others coming in the next few months deal with the issues I have been facing.

"Hesitance" deals with the concept of stages in life's journey, and subsequently, of change. I chose to use death as a metaphor for change, inspired by Viking funerals. In mythology (and religions for that matter), death is often seen not as an ending, but rather the next phase of one's journey. 

The archer is tasked with sending off a companion to the next phase of their life, and his flaming arrow is prepared to be fired. But he hesitates - he, too, will have to deal with the change brought forth by the absence of that companion. Perhaps he is grappling with the reality of this juncture, or silently saying a final goodbye...

When we are faced with moments of great change we are often hesitant to walk the new path. It seems treacherous - it's unexplored, unknown. Our archer knows he is marking the end of one life - one phase. But perhaps in the end, there can also be found a beginning.

As the sun sets on this day, and a chapter comes to a close, we may make peace under the stars. For in time, the sun will rise again, and the start of a new journey begins.