All the different bits of our bodies are naturally part of us. All our bulges and bumps, grooves and curves make us what we are. Modesty requires us to cover up but this does not mean we ignore these seldom revealed bits or that there is shame in not having a perfect body.
This raises intriguing questions - what is a perfect body and why is it important to fit to a particular image or shape? Can we accept that imperfect is ok?
Imperfect bodies by and large work very well and still produce great talents, intellects, values and decent people. Perfection is over-rated and leads to many other difficulties and problems.
A big issue is dealing with bodies that begin to fail us, recognising that something is wrong and that action needs to be taken. Getting over the difficulty of recognising that something is wrong with a person's body is one of the big steps in dealing with cancer. I have heard people, whose loved ones have been diagnosed with different forms of cancer, say that one of the most important things is not to ignore all the small signs and symptoms that may be early warnings. It must be mental torture to have quiet moments where you are wondering is there something wrong. Can a person sleep at night as they wonder if some recurrent or constant small symptom is in fact a warning sign of a more serious condition?
I've learned that breast cancer is still the biggest killer of women in Ireland and that people should go for regular checks and screenings to ensure that all is well. If there is one thing that we all learn about cancer it is that time is of the essence and the earlier it is dealt with the better.
I decided to do a painting of a woman's breast to highlight the issue of breast cancer.
In the painting (above) the breast is covered by the woman's hand to convey the sense of modesty and reluctance to really look at breasts. For any man, a woman's breasts hold great allure and sexual appeal. There is a beautifully feminine aspect to their shape and form. Cleavage can arouse great passion and lust.
In the painting the curve of the breast catches the light and there is a beautiful attractive glow from the soft pink flesh. I've also tried to convey a sense of fullness and richness of womanhood in the size of the breast. In covering the nipple with the hand I am trying to convey a sense of further richness and greater womanhood to be revealed. The breast is not to be looked at casually and seen as a common everyday part of a woman, it is to be appreciated and admired as an essentailly feminine attribute.
There is great contrast between light and shade in the painting to convey this tendency to cover up and rarely reveal the core parts of the body . The fingers on the hand are long and tapering to show a finesse of touch and the hint of red nail polish on the thumb and little finger suggest a rauchy side to this intriguing woman. The diamond ring on the wedding finger catches the light to show the true richness and fantastic qualities of wives and mothers.
This raises intriguing questions - what is a perfect body and why is it important to fit to a particular image or shape? Can we accept that imperfect is ok?
Imperfect bodies by and large work very well and still produce great talents, intellects, values and decent people. Perfection is over-rated and leads to many other difficulties and problems.
A big issue is dealing with bodies that begin to fail us, recognising that something is wrong and that action needs to be taken. Getting over the difficulty of recognising that something is wrong with a person's body is one of the big steps in dealing with cancer. I have heard people, whose loved ones have been diagnosed with different forms of cancer, say that one of the most important things is not to ignore all the small signs and symptoms that may be early warnings. It must be mental torture to have quiet moments where you are wondering is there something wrong. Can a person sleep at night as they wonder if some recurrent or constant small symptom is in fact a warning sign of a more serious condition?
I've learned that breast cancer is still the biggest killer of women in Ireland and that people should go for regular checks and screenings to ensure that all is well. If there is one thing that we all learn about cancer it is that time is of the essence and the earlier it is dealt with the better.
I decided to do a painting of a woman's breast to highlight the issue of breast cancer.
In the painting (above) the breast is covered by the woman's hand to convey the sense of modesty and reluctance to really look at breasts. For any man, a woman's breasts hold great allure and sexual appeal. There is a beautifully feminine aspect to their shape and form. Cleavage can arouse great passion and lust.
In the painting the curve of the breast catches the light and there is a beautiful attractive glow from the soft pink flesh. I've also tried to convey a sense of fullness and richness of womanhood in the size of the breast. In covering the nipple with the hand I am trying to convey a sense of further richness and greater womanhood to be revealed. The breast is not to be looked at casually and seen as a common everyday part of a woman, it is to be appreciated and admired as an essentailly feminine attribute.
There is great contrast between light and shade in the painting to convey this tendency to cover up and rarely reveal the core parts of the body . The fingers on the hand are long and tapering to show a finesse of touch and the hint of red nail polish on the thumb and little finger suggest a rauchy side to this intriguing woman. The diamond ring on the wedding finger catches the light to show the true richness and fantastic qualities of wives and mothers.
