Butterflies and Elk Mount Vanitas
20" X 16" X 2"
Oil
Judy Vars
420.00
The pretty butterflies
with their ethereal nature float upon the air and seem to enjoy their happiness;
they fly about on their gossamer wings dancing around the once proud elk. They
both remind us of the paradoxes in life and death and give us a vision of some of
mother earths delights.
This is my
latest in a series of memento mori paintings (translated to remember that you
will die) or vanitas paintings. Vanitas art explores the age old theme of resurrection,
transience and transcendence. Up until
recent history death was seen as a motivator to live a good and meaningful life.
To help men remember artists created paintings depicting skulls, and other
symbols of death. The skulls and skeletons on some grave markers remind the
visiting family members to get right with God before they bit the dust. So quit wasting your time on stupid stuff and
start living your life the way you want today.
We acquired
this European elk mount at an auction held to raise money for dying friend’s
medical expenses. My husband the carver
is going to carve Celtic patterns onto the skull but in the mean time it resides
in the corner of my studio, the only problem with this is it is as big as a
lazy boy! The antlers have poked me while trying to find a book or get my
supplies. So needless to say I was
cussing the elk daily, after spending some time painting this once proud
creature we are on better terms.
“We delight
in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone
through to achieve that beauty." Maya
Angelou
"If we catch
a glimpse of freedom, we wish to possess it; if we catch a glimpse of death, we
want nothing to do with it." One we cannot have, the other we cannot avoid. Jeremy P. Johnson
