Healing Illustrations Series
This draft series of illustrations depicts women, children and families mainly in the Middle East, but also the Mediterranean. The illustrations have to do with women who are recovering from illness and are meant to console and empathize through imagery of traditional scenarios and subjects.
This draft series of illustrations depicts women, children and families mainly in the Middle East, but also the Mediterranean. The illustrations are centered around women who are recovering from illness and are meant to console and empathize through imagery of traditional scenarios and subjects.
The final works are intended to be a series of hand-printed silkscreen posters, each piece being 1 m x 80 cm.
1. "Psalms," Draft 2, 42 x 29 cm, pencil on drafting paper, 2015
The young woman who is fully dressed, but barefoot stands with a large heart on the sea shore, and next to her is a little angel gazing up to her, showing their connection. Above them fly angels and they are surrounded by symbols and scripture meant to give strength, hope and life:
hope (rainbow, water, mosque, angels), strength and courage (horses, community); protection and faith (mosque, peacock, fish); and verses from the Book of Psalms, verses 103; 1-5
2. "The Flower of Life," Draft 2, 42 x 29 cm, pencil on drafting paper, 2015
The Flower of Life is a symbol traditionally depicted in Arabic embroidery, but also in Eastern religions, such as Buddhism. The center of the flower shows an angel praying, from Byzantine depictions of the saints, and the four corners show kneeling angels in prayer inspired by Chinese painting. Surrounding the flower is a chain of women from different cultures holding hands.
"Flying Angels in the Desert," Draft 2, 43 x 29.5 cm, pencil on recycled paper, 2016
These are angels flying above the desert, and in the desert there is an oasis, a rainbow and homes symbolizing the community and life. Other symbols such as a vine and doves also give the message of life and hope. The boarder pattern is a composite of traditional Middle Eastern architectural patterns.
4. "Hymn," draft 2, 43 x 29.5 cm, pencil on recycled paper, 2016
Here is a mother or sister playing the Middle Eastern guitar, called Oud, which is similar to the Greek Bouzouki and sheep and goats, or a flock in the desert look on under the starry night sky. The animals are taken from life-drawings in our village in Northern Greece.
5. “Praise Be To God,” Draft 2, 43 x 29.5 cm, pencil on recycled paper, 2016
An example of Arabic calligraphy that transcends time and culture because of its exceptional design, the Basmala re-enforces the beauty of Islamic art. The phrase reads, “Praise be to God,” in the pattern of a chessboard. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basmala
6. "Cell Transformation," Draft 2, 42 x 29 cm, pencil on drafting paper, 2016
This final image is a composite of two separate subjects. The first being pink free dots resembling petals or drops in motion, inspired by Japanese Kimono patterns but also a reference to the way cancer cells look when magnified.
7. "Community," Draft 2, 42 x 29 cm, pencil on drafting paper, 2015
Each picture in this work shows a typical Middle Eastern scene with women in Abayas sitting by the sea-shore or in an oasis with family. The image with the ladies on the dunes could almost be seen metaphor for women holding out her hand to a fellow patient after breast cancer.
8. "Shahada," Draft 2, 42 x 29 cm, pencil on drafting paper, 2016
The Shahada in Arabic Kufic-style calligraphy. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shahada
