Daniel...(Again)

'Assisted by his genius half hidden in his lilac mantle, the man who lived unharmed in a lion's den silently sets down in the Book of Life what he has seen. The seer's hand with the foreshortened arm expresses quiet dedication to his task.'

I painted (copied) the Prophet, 'Daniel' in 1987 (mixed media, I used everything) for an off Broadway production on his life, called 'El Shaddai'. El Shaddai is conventionally translated as God Almighty. According to Exodus 6:2, 3, Shaddai (שַׁדַּי) is the name by which God was known to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The name Shaddai is again used as a name of God later in theBook of Job. 

For all these many years, I had this, the printers copy of 'Daniel', safely tucked away in my portfolio. However, recently, like a burst of light, that small voice said, bring it out, this is frame worthy. So, after some trial and error, I found that I was able to have beautiful copies made at, of all places, Kinko's. And into 2 frames 'Daniel' landed. One for me and the other for the author of 'El Shaddai', C.B. Murray 4th.

 'Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.'
Matthew 5:16

Words for Wednesday, 'El Shaddai', from the Archives

When I was in the 4th grade, I read a book by Louisa May Alcott, called 'An Old Fashioned Girl'. Somewhat fitting, as I have mentioned that on occasion, I think I may have been born in the wrong era, as my love for antiques and Victorian houses (all things old), is very much part of who I am. We wrote book reports, many book reports. The book reports always had covers with drawings. My material of choice at the time was Craypas, or oil pastels. You could layer them and then make designs by scratching off the top layer. Anywho, jumping ahead quite a few years, with lots of training in Fine Arts, college behind me, I painted/drew this poster for an off Broadway production called 'El Shaddai'. It was a beautifully written musical about the life of Daniel. I thought the best way to go, was to copy Michelangelo's 'Daniel' from the Sistine Chapel. I fell completely in-love with Daniel!! He is painted/drawn in mixed media,; watercolor, pastel, pastel pencil, colored pencil, just about everything BUT Craypas. I couldn't help but put these two pictures together, because they're both a part of me. An old fashioned girl, with faith. Prayerfully, if ever I wind up in the lions den, I'll be just fine....eyes and heart set like a flint toward heaven....

Words for Wednesday from the Archives

When I was in the 4th grade, I read a book by Louisa May Alcott, called 'An Old Fashioned Girl'. Somewhat fitting, as I have mentioned that ON OCCASION, I think I may have been born in the wrong era, as my love for antiques and Victorian houses (all things old), is very much part of who I am. The book reports ALWAYS had covers with drawings. My material of choice at the time was CRAYPAS, or oil pastels. You could layer them and then make designs by scratching the top layer. Anywho, jumping ahead quite a few years, with lots of training in Fine Arts, college behind me, I did this poster for an off Broadway production called 'El Shaddai'. It was a beautifully written musical about the life of Daniel. I thought the best way to go, was to copy Michelangelo's 'Daniel' from the Sistine Chapel. Well, I completely fell in-love, with Daniel, that is. He is done in mixed media, watercolor, pastel, pastel pencil, colored pencil, just about everything BUT Craypas. I couldn't help but put these two pictures together, because they're both a part of me. An old fashioned girl, with faith. Prayerfully, if ever I wind up in the lions den, I'll be just fine....eyes and heart set like a flint toward heaven....