Thursday, October 3, 2013

to lock or to love...?

 
watercolor
image credit: Jess @ paintmyphoto

To love at all is to be vulnerable.
 Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. 

If you want to make sure of keeping it intact 
you must give it to no one, 
not even an animal. 
Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries;
 avoid all entanglements. 
Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. 
But in that casket, 
safe, dark, motionless, airless, 
it will change. 
It will not be broken
it will become 
unbreakable, 
impenetrable, 
irredeemable. 

To love is to be vulnerable.” 

― C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

Sharing at ppf and apr

34 comments:

  1. What a fabulous post. Love the painting with all its ancient rustiness and the poem too.

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  2. Oh my goodness. I just came over here after re-telling the most heart-wrenching story I have read in ages and ages and ages. I don't even know if I should share because I feel it would burden everyone who read it. If you don't want to know, then don't read the rest of this comment.

    A new friend recently moved to be near an elephant sanctuary. One of the elephants there had a great friend named Bella, a dog. They were the best of friends for several years. Just after my friend arrived, coyotes attacked Bella. The elephant tried to save her, but she couldn't. She carried the dog's body back to the keepers, but would not participate in the memorial they had. Did they get her another dog? Should they even? So horribly sad.

    Everyone should have a friend like that. Everyone should BE a friend like that. I wonder if an elephant can have happy memories. One day.

    Anyway. It was interesting to come here and read the poem that inspired your locks - which are beautiful by the way! Perfectly imperfectly rusted.

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    1. A sad but beautiful story of friendship, Cindy! A fitting word picture of C.S. Lewis' description of love... Thanks for sharing...

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  3. I love the way you captured the patina and rust of this very interesting and strong lock composition. The C.S. Lewis piece you paired with it makes it even stronger. Blessings!

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  4. Love your piece. Excellent work. Thanks.
    gloria

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  5. Our watercolors are always so exquisite no matter what the subject. HPPF!

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  6. The chain and locks are beautiful painted. . .incredible. Blessings, Janet PPF

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  7. Beautiful painting, and love the quote from CS Lewis. Valerie

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  8. True words, and a perfect image to underline ! Great painting , love how you achived the rust !

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  9. What a great piece of prose. So very true but who want to live with their heart locked away against all the pleasure love brings as well as the pain. Gorgeous painting which fits perfectly with this prose as always.

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  10. An unusual subject, but such a beautiful painting!

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  11. the poem is so fitting for your beautiful artwork.....wow that is so intricate. Happy PPF, Annette x
    http://nettysartadventures.blogspot.co.uk/

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  12. How can you make locks look so incredible? Thios touches my heart as all your art does.
    Happy PPF to you my dear friend.

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  13. STUNNING - great colors, awesome composition - so glad you shared it. Happy PPF

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  14. I love the brown color and beautiful watery rust effect. Such a delicate touch. Impressed! happy PPF

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  15. I so adore your ability with color. When I visited NYC we walked over the Brooklyn bridge. There are many locks like this that have couple's initials, love notes and sentiments. Its very cool. Yours are lovely!

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  16. gorgeous watercolor- I love the feel of rust you have captured in it. Happy PPF!

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  17. the locks are stunning... you capture form better than almost anyone out there... xx

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  18. Wow powerful impressive work! Amazing post..!!!! Love it all!

    Hugs Giggles

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  19. Oh my Minnemie what amazing art and words!
    Just stunning work ;D
    xoxo

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  20. If I never told you, I will tell you now. There is nothing crippled about your pencil or your brush or your choice of poetry. I enjoy every visit. Hardware would hardly be considered a subject to paint, but you showed us the beauty in locks and chain--and commitment.

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  21. It's stunning, great technique and texture. And color! Really love this! <3

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  22. This is wonderful, i love how you can make it look realistic and loose and artsy at the same time! Wonderful!

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  23. Lovely work! I´m a bit curious about how you did the marks at the left?

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    1. I used salt, but I think some of the additional marks came from painting over the name of the paper that happened to be embossed on that left side - just a coincidence that worked in favor of texture:-)

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  24. Such a well executed painting/ I really like the words you posted to go with it as well.

    Darla

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  25. Some more very effective colours and textures here. what an interesting picture and such a unique approach to subject matter!! Your work is very original!!

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  26. This is SO good, Minnemie!!!! So realistic...an amazing piece!!
    Congratulations!!

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  27. I hope all your inner locks and chains with go away into this piercing painting.
    Minnemie, glad to meet you and thank you so much for your generous comments in my blog!

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  28. Amazing how you painted the locks Minnemie. Very nicely done! Take care!!xx

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