I love talking about my pieces. I love that in a blog form, one can read it and also be happy about art. And if art isn't your thing, you don't have to read it. However, you might want to read this story because this piece of art is special and has an interesting story.
I knew this piece was going to be this dress. It has been backed up in my mind for a while. It's relatively large for a painting of a child's dress, around 4'x3'. It began with a molten wax pour. I enjoy playing with the molten wax, scattering pigments and swishing them all around.
Because of gravity, the piece has to lay flat while I'm working with wax. I take pictures of my work as I go to get an idea of what it will look like standing up. I saw the angel right away and then I noticed a little girl in a big party dress, reaching up to kiss the angel. At moments like these, one has to decide whether or not to include what is seen in the piece. I decided that it would be a great dress.
I continued to finish the work, protecting the images that I had originally seen. After she cooled, I stood her up and took pictures. Before I named her, or even really took a close look at her, I was distracted for several hours. Upon returning to her, I immediately saw that the girl in the wax was my niece, Hailey, kissing her guardian angel.
She's in a big pink party dress-up dress a few sizes too large for her tiny frame. Her hair is halfway up; the flying ribbons of her bow and sash exhibit her constant frilly motion.
The angel is to the left of Hailey, hugging the curves of the dress. Her body is positioned like a shining art deco hood ornament but she is very softly dressed in the most beautiful gown I've ever seen. Her wings are gloriously spread. I don't often get personal messages from God but this was a great one. It gives me a great sense of peace, comfort and joy every time I see her.
What's even better than all of that? I realized later that the day I finished the piece was Hailey's actual fifth birthday! Happy Birthday, Princess Girl! Love, Aunt Ree.
