you can see all of my paintings at www.DominiqueHurley.com

Soul Energy Portrait: “Jen’s Magnific-Essence”

Jens-Magnific-Essence Energy Painting CommissionCreating this Soul Energy Portrait for Jen Onyskie in Manitoba was a very moving experience – for both of us!

I feel so honoured to be of service in this way.

Happily, Jen welcomed the opportunity to share her experience.

 

Jen’s Magnific-Essence

I love knowing how people find my work, or how it finds them.

Jen first saw one of my exhibitions at Moksha Yoga in 2012, when she was in St. John’s for a conference.  When she returned last year, she purchased a set of my Spirit Calling Cards.  In June, she contacted me to co-create an energy painting.

Opening Meditation

I opened our session with sacred ritual to prepare myself and the space.  I then asked The Universe, her Guides, angels and other divine helpers to channel a creative visualization based on her chosen theme.

It included openings for her to access guidance, unique experiences, visions, and feelings. It also included specific messages and techniques to help with her intention.

Jen’s commitment to the process was obvious from the beginning, when she set the intention to listen to the recording every day for a week.

“It is amazing how my visions change every time I go through the process…”

The Layers

“Jen’s Magnific-Essence” Soul Energy Portrait commission went through several transformations during our time working together.  It was great to hear back that she really resonated with the symbolism and messages I was emailing her, along with the photos.

“I am completely overwhelmed with the power of your words, the images of my painting in progress as well as what my energy guides are telling me.  I have read and reread all emails multiple times over the weekend as well as watching my painting transform layer by layer, but yet I can still see the layers beneath- incredible!  I am amazed at the power my painting has on me for emotional releases and feeling different emotions- it is truly a gift!”

Energy Work

Once the painting was completed, I was moved to do one more energy session for Jen. These, of course, are different every time.

Time and distance are not an issue for energy work.  This is explained a little further by my mandala painting posts on The Law of Divine Oneness and The Law of Vibration.

Jen’s energy session not only involved balancing her chakras and releasing blocks, but also infusing her painting, so that it will continue to be an empowering tool on her journey.

A Gift To Her Self

Energy Painting Commission detailInvesting in a Soul Energy Portrait Experience is an exercise in allowing, in trust, in wellness.  

As usual with an intuitive painting, I never know what it will be before I start. Neither does the client …  That takes courage. Bravo Jen!

I’ll admit, it can be a bit scary for me, not knowing if the client will love their painting.

When I remember, however, that this is a work of art co-created with divine assistance, I can easily let go of that fear.  I know it will serve them in exactly how it is meant to serve.

Still, getting Jen’s email soon after she received her painting/gift package was a thrill.

“I could not wait to open it at home, so I ripped it open like a kid on Christmas morning in my office! … I am struggling for words at  how I felt when I first saw it and how I feel  now… I cried, of course, I am flooded with emotion- joy, happiness, excitement- it is so beautiful in so many ways….I instantly I felt the desire to blow into the dandelion, which I did with an intention to live and experience the joy all around me.  When I close my eyes- I see the dandelion puffs floating away taking my intentions and sending them out into the universe.”

Would You Like an Energy Painting?

Soul Energy Portraits are time and energy intensive projects.  I am only available to do a limited number of these each year, so if you’re interested, contact me to explore the timing.

Click here to find out more about commissioning an energy painting for yourself or as a gift.

spiral

” I do believe that the universe brought you to me as an opportunity for personal growth.  You are truly a gifted artist with so many talents from painting, channeling Divine Helpers, providing messages for growth, engaging with community and the world.”

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Journey Into the Law of Vibration – Enter the Mandala

Law-of-Vibration-Dominique-Hurley

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Here it is – the second of the Enter the Mandala Project paintings – The Law of Vibration.

As an intuitive artist, journeying into the Law of Vibration has meant riding the sinuous waves of energy throughout space and time as well as skipping from one God Particle to another within all things.

What a trip!

I’ll do my best to share with you the wonders of both the creative and spiritual processes here.

The Spirit Calling Card Reading

As you know, my goal in this series is to explore and express the Twelve Universal Laws.

It’s part of my own spiritual journey, using my intuitive gifts to generate a better understanding of the concepts on a body, mind, and spirit level.

In addition to the initial interpretations I share in the audio below, this Spirit Calling Card reading affirmed that by answering the call of my Angels and Spirit Guides to create this series, I am planting seeds on all levels. By using intuition and colour as my mediums, I am evolving and opening a gateway for those interested in journeying with me.

Thanks for coming along!

SCC-Law-of-Vibration-Dominique-Hurley

Listen In

I love the visual journeys I take when I channel a Divine Storytelling Time! Whether I’m doing one to source information for myself, a painting, or as part of an intuitive reading for a client, they’re such rich sources of experience and symbology.

You get to join me on this short journey, which starts right after the Spirit Calling Card reading.

I invite you to listen as you explore the meaning of The Law of Vibration through the photos below.

The Creative Process

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Up Close

It took me about 75 hours to create this 30″ x 30″ painting.  I spent about 16 of those dot-making … a very meditative process.

As it was the last week of the Hay House Summit 2015, I also spent many of those hours listening to inspiring podcasts.  While my left brain was listening, my right brain entered the mandala, riding the waves of creativity and energy.

The Spiritual Process

It’s amazing to think (and know, and feel) that absolutely everything is pure energy vibrating at different frequencies.

I’ve long accepted this when it comes to the things we can see with the naked eye – be it people, plants, man-made objects, etc. I was paying attention in science class!

I also knew that this was true of what we can perceive with our other senses, such as sounds and smells. It even made sense that dog whistles, which we can’t hear, are vibrating at an imperceptible frequency.

I remember being fascinated, however, when I was introduced to the fact that thoughts, beliefs, and emotions are also vibrations.  Even consciousness is vibration! These aren’t only spiritual concepts, but quantum physics ones as well.

If you haven’t seen the movies “What the Bleep Do We Know!?”  and “What the Bleep: Down the Rabbit Hole” yet, I recommend them. They do a great job of explaining parts of this.

MOST INTRIGUING:

I don’t remember hearing or reading anything about it, but what has intrigued me most through this intuitive painting experience is the idea that time and history also vibrate at specific energetic frequencies. Is that why repressed emotions from this or past lifetimes get stored in our bodies and psyches? Is that where the idea of time travel came from? The fact that my visual journey through the Law of Vibration took me from cavemen to Columbus to modern times fascinates me.

The more I painted and the more I listened, the more I understood. Teal Swan, one of the Hay House speakers who was born with extrasensory perception, explained how she doesn’t see negative space like most of us do. For her, there is no empty space. Everything is vibrating in waves of energy, including the wind, the air, etc. There is no clear separation between things.

LINKS:

My experience journeying through this mandala also reaffirmed the link between the Law of Vibration and the Law of Attraction.  By vibrating at a certain frequency, through the power of our emotions, we attract what is also vibrating at that same frequency.

As Abraham (channeled by Esther Hicks) explained in a great interview by Dr. Wayne Dwyer, we have 17 seconds after having a negative thought to get off that vibration frequency. Esther herself, when she notices such thoughts, simply starts counting backwards to unhook from that frequency.  It stops her from spiralling down the chain of negative thoughts that remind her of related negative thoughts, etc.  I also like Abraham’s description of sleep as a reset button.  That’s why it’s so important to spend the first minutes upon waking on the higher frequency vibrations instead of instantly checking emails or listening to the news.  I don’t listen to the news, but I do jump onto the computer a little too quickly …

As spiritual beings here on earth to have human experiences, we are bound to vibrate at various frequencies during our lives, our chapters, our days and even our minutes. The importance of our roles as vibration managers though, is an interesting one to think about.  Are we following the leadership of our Guides and Higher Selves or are we so caught up in the details that we’re spinning on the lower frequencies – stuck until we remember to reconnect to our true essence?

I could go on, but you get the picture.  The Law of Vibration is as it is. There are many ways to understand it, including the various spiritual and metaphysical teachings I’ve been studying for years.  This was simply another way to explore and express it, helping me perceive and experience life and the world in a much more unconditionally loving way.

Law-of-Vibration-Dominique-Hurley

 

Your Turn

I’d love to hear from you. Let’s get a community discussion going.  Scroll down to leave a reply.

What does this painting or post bring to mind? to heart? 

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An Energy Painting Commission in Action

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Adding Love, Light and Colour to Local Nursing Home

Shine-On-Dominique-Hurley
As an artist, I receive several requests to donate work to charity auctions and events every year. It simply wouldn’t be feasible for me to say yes to all of them. So, like with many things, I go with my gut feeling and assess whether the project is aligned with my own mission.

When I heard about the Masonic Park Art Project back in February, I lit up. What a great idea! This project vibrated with the love of beauty and the beauty of love.

Lorna Yard, the organizer, put out a call for 40 artists to help bring joy and colour to the rooms of residents at the Masonic Park Nursing Home. Her own father, Cyril, is a resident at the nursing home. When he moved in, Lorna lovingly decorated his room, but many of the other residents didn’t have anyone to do the same for them.

In her words:

“These are the people who built a world for us, who raised our parents, who tended our communities, and who we owe everything to. I felt they deserve something beautiful to remind them of how beautiful they are.”

She had no trouble signing up 40 crafts people, painters, photographers, etc.

A couple of weeks ago, we each received a short biography of the resident we were paired with.

This was mine:

Female in her 90s. She is originally from Pound Cove. She was a home maker and a volunteer in her church for 40 years. Her faith and spirituality have always been extremely important to her and has remained so. Her favourite hymn is ‘The Old Rugged Cross’.

I really enjoyed creating this piece especially for her. It was made with many layers of acrylic paints, love, and prayers. 

The painting was inspired by the idea of a stained glass window and the radiant love of God / The Universe that shines on all of us. That’s why I named it “Shine On” (9″ x 12″).

I’m really looking forward to our June 13th mini-exhibition of the artwork and kitchen party at the nursing home. That’s when I’ll get to meet my recipient and the other participants in this heart-warming project.

What a beautiful way to create connection in the community and transform a space. I’m honoured to be a part of this effort to add love, light and colour to this nursing home. Thanks Lorna! May your initiative inspire many others.

There are so many ways to be of service by matching our love and passions with the needs of the community. How do your favourite businesses give back? Are you involved in a volunteer project that warms your heart? Please share in the discussion below, knowing our stories will inspire others.

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Journey Into Divine Oneness – Enter the Mandala

Law-of-Divine-Oneness-Dominique-Hurley

 

This is the first painting of 12 in the Enter the Mandala Project.  I’m so excited to share The Law of Divine Oneness with you!

What a journey! Here’s what I’ve learned through the co-creation of this mandala.

Sourced from Divine Energy, all that is seen and unseen comes from the field of infinite possibilities.

Together, we move as Divine Oneness in a spiralling web of interconnectedness. As to one, so to all.

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The Intuitive Journey

Visionary artists receive their inspiration in many ways: through dreams, meditation, mind altering substances, etc. I’m one of the rare ones who’s never even tried drugs. That’s not a good or bad thing – it just is.

For this series of paintings, I decided to use my intuitive journeying process (which I call my mini-movies) to dive deeper into the Twelve Universal Laws.

As you’ll hear, I first asked Source and my team of Divine Helpers to guide me.

I then travelled through worlds of imagery to collect messages and symbols related to the Law of Divine Oneness.

Since I asked on behalf everyone, you get to play detective with me as we decipher these messages. Have fun with this. I did!

Listen In:

While listening to this 15-minute audio, take a look at the Spirit Calling Cards below and the Creative Process photos.  See if you can find how I incorporated the symbols I was given. I’m not much into realism, so some symbols are, well, symbolic.

There’s no right or wrong way of doing this. If you’d rather just close your eyes and experience the journey that way, go for it.

The Spirit Calling Card Reading

These are the Spirit Calling Cards that acted as a doorway into the intuitive visual journey.

Spirit-Calling-Card-Reading-Dominique-Hurley

The Creative Process

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Click on an image if you want to go through them larger – it shouldn’t stop the audio.

The Spiritual Process

I’m sure you’ve heard that spiritual growth isn’t always smooth.

Have you ever decided to work on an issue only to start having opportunities to do so hit you in the face?  This form of “ask and you shall receive” can be challenging for sure! But the rewards are worthwhile.

It’s no surprise, therefore, that having asked to understand the Law of Divine Oneness, I got to do so – not only through my intuitive journey and painting, but in every day life.  Immediately!

Right after a very absorbing painting session, I went to the kitchen, where my housemate presented me with a huge mirror (no, not literally). She helped me see that I was not only disconnected from her, but also from the here and now.  I was still in my head and in my painting, reflecting on the meaning of Oneness.  Wow!

After a few seconds of shock, we both recognized that we were being offered a wonderful opening for connection, unconditional love, and understanding.  I suddenly realized on a cellular level (as my entire body was vibrating) how true it is that what we do to one person affects everyone and everything everywhere.  At first, I could almost sense the shockwaves traveling around the planet. But then, because we chose to lovingly deal with the situation, I could see this having a much greater effect that reached far beyond the borders of our kitchen and even our world. I was grateful to my Divine Helpers for showing me that.

There have been quite a lot of shifts in my personal world since I started this exploration into the Law of Divine Oneness.

I’m coming out of hermit mode after a winter of diving more deeply into my Self and my art/business.  I’m feeling called to being of service at a greater level. I’m reconnecting to the infinite possibilities, to gratitude, and to people. I’m letting go of fear, of judgment, of limiting beliefs.  Great stuff!

Your Turn

I’d love to hear what this post/painting inspires in you. Please share your perspective, insights and comments in the discussion below.  Your contribution is a valuable part of this community process.

 

What will your journey through this first Universal Law open up for you?  

You are such a beautiful and important part of the Divine Oneness.

What you and I do to raise our level of consciousness will help us all.

We are all interconnected.

 

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Painting: “I’ve Got Your Back”

Ive got your back-Dominique HurleyHere’s a clear example of creating out of necessity.

This painting was born from a state of desperately needing to reconnect to Source, to Support, to Purpose, to Love during a period when I’m spending 10-16 hours a day learning and building my new website.  I get overwhelmed and scared much too easily when it comes to technology.

So I took Easter Sunday off the computer to dive back into the creative realms that nourish me on so many levels.

Can you feel the energy that was channeled through this blessed image?

It spent the whole next day beside me at the computer and my eyes sought it often as panic and frustration mounted.

It reminded me to breathe and connect on a moment by moment basis. Very empowering!

I’m glad to say I’m in a much better space now because of it (although still only making baby steps towards my goals). Still, it’s progress.  Thank you dear God and Guiding Spirits, Angels of Light and Love.  I know you’re here – all I need to do is remember to ask for help.

We only need but ask…

*

“I’ve Got Your Back” – 15″ x 30″ – acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas (no framing required) 

Original – Sold.  See  Prints in my online shop.

May this painting bring you whatever message you need to hear today.

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“Side by Side” – the painting

Side by Side-Dominique Hurley “Side by Side“, 30″ x 40”, mixed media (acrylics, granular gel, light molding paste, glass beads, acrylic paints) on gallery-stretched canvas.   Go to my online shop for the Original and Prints.

Note: the photo does not show the reflective nature of some of the colours – this painting shimmers live and looks different from different angles.

The Final Day (almost):

What a blissful day on Sunday – I had decided to take a complete day off B-School to paint (and sing) – and that’s just what I did. I didn’t even check our 2 B-School Facebook Groups (they do get addictive…).

I started very early in the morning with Kirtan music (Sanskrit chanting) and switched to 50s and 60s music after lunch. I never did get around to taking my shower (not a common phenomenon!)…

After a late afternoon walk with a friend in Bowring Park (where I delighted in the endless parade of dogs of all kinds and sizes) and a bowl of healthy mung bean stew, I headed back to the studio and kept working late into the evening.

When I saw number 444 on my camera, however, I understood my guides were telling me it was enough for one day – it was already past 10pm and I’m usually in bed at 9. Plus, I was starting to get annoyed with myself – not a space to paint in.

The next morning, I woke up to the blizzard outside and my morning meeting cancelled, so I continued working on my painting for a little while before wiring and varnishing it.

The Creative Process:

I have had such an amazing time with this painting since the last Studio Sneak Peek. I invite you to join me in that creative process today. If you’ve missed the previous 2 posts and want to experience the progression from the start, you can access 1) “Love, Beauty & Mystery” by clicking here and 2) “Yinning and Yanning” here.

After finishing work on the couple, including the dots following the hairlines,

23_wip-Dominique Hurley-DLH_1533I continued working on the outer rings.  You’ll see the progression here – notice that I painted white under the orange because I wanted my orange to be nice and bright. It would have been much darker and muted if I had painted on top of other colours.  Also, I didn’t want to use the fluorescent orange I had speckled the base with because fluorescent paints aren’t lightfast. I may use UV resistant varnish, but I haven’t tested whether that would be enough to stop these accents from dimming with time.

I like to use the highest grade of professional acrylic paints available for a reason.  I’m reminded of the importance of that each time I visit my parents and see one of the faded paintings I made in the early 90s. It’s still beautiful, but some of the colours have disappeared. I’ve learned a lot since then.

Then I dove into Zentangles® in the corners.  I’ll confess, I was listening to one of the audio books for B-School that day and while my left brain was busy with that, my right brain got lost in the meditative trance of pattern making.  I had originally thought of just making a small pattern with ample space around the circle and around the edges, but as you can see, I got carried away and went all the way from the corner to the circle.

With dark against dark the circle lost its power. No worries. There are no mistakes in intuitive painting.  So out came the pearl and white.  I liked that and decided to balance the results with patterns in the opposite corner, but not as heavily there.

Great!  After looking at it for a while, I decided to grace the couple with a halo.  This representation of unconditional love naturally glowed. 🙂  I used zinc white for this because, unlike Titanium White, it’s transparent.  I went around the circle twice before adding rays of Titanium white lines.  Remember, you can click on an image to see it larger.

I then decided to empower the painting with one of the sacred sigils I developed in Vienna (learn how in a previous post).

How many times have I said there are no mistakes in intuitive painting?  Well, there aren’t.  After spending the afternoon working on these symbols (and even signing it), I realized that they pulled the eye in all directions.  The painting was much better (visually speaking) without them.  Just look at these side by side.  Do you see what I mean?

So I spent the whole evening starting the process over in those two corners- warm colour marks, followed by cool colour marks, followed by a gold glaze to unify.  Here’s where I understood advice I once heard – take notes.  I couldn’t tell which of my 3 golds I had used in the previous glaze…

It wasn’t quite right – too orangy and too flat.  I compared it to my early shots and much preferred it before.  So more mark-making to bring some of the magentas in and another couple of glazes – violets and golds (2 kinds).  In total, there are about 10 layers of paint on top of those two sigils, but if you look very carefully at the live painting, you can still see their texture – wonderful! Their energy is still there, even if their visual representation has been covered up.

What this last part process reminded me, however, is that it’s no use wanting to go back in time and try to recreated the exact same results.  Attaching to the way things were only brings misery (isn’t that so true in relationships as well?).

The painting has evolved. It’s different – it’s not really a case of better or worse. It just is – and I love it!

What about you?  Does this painting or process speak to you? How? Feel free to comment below.

Side by Side-Dominique Hurley

Title: Side by Side
Year: © 2015
Size: 30 “ x 40“ (76.2 cm x 101.6 cm)
Artist: Dominique Hurley
Materials: Professional acrylics, granular gel, light molding paste, glass beads & channeled energy work on gallery-wrapped canvas with painted edges. No framing required. 
Genre: intuitive painting, visionary art, energism art, spiritual art, inspirational art
Price: $3,700 CAD
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Original and Prints.
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Studio Sneak Peek: Yinning and Yanging

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Studio Sneak Peek: Love, Beauty, Mystery

perfect senseMy newest work in progress started with a gasp as I was watching the movie “Perfect Sense”, one of the offerings on Waking Up to the Movies (see previous post).  I don’t know if I need to credit the director, David Mackenzie, or the cinematographer Giles Nuttgens, but when this shot came up, I paused the movie, apologized to my housemate, grabbed my iPhone, and took a picture.  All week I had been contemplating how best to represent the faces of a couple inside a circle. This was it! Isn’t that just the perfect shot?!

I worked on the drawing and stencil in my room while the repairs were being finished in my studio (new water pipes, ceiling, fresh paint).  I knew I wanted the forms to be raised, like in a cameo, so I needed to cut the stencil in something thick.  Unfortunately, the only large sheet of foam that I could get at Michaels was black (comes in a roll), which made tracing a bit tricky, but I managed with white transfer paper (which didn’t work very well on foam) and then a white paint marker. After that, I used an X-acto knife to cut it.

01_wip-Dominique Hurley-IMG_8916Originally, I had sized the design for a 24″ x 48″ canvas, but when I got down to the studio, a 30″ x 40″ canvas called to me.  I listened.  I invited my Guides and Angels to join me in the co-creative process, smudged myself, the canvas and the studio with sacred palo santo smoke, added some blessed water from the Chalice Well in Glastonbury to my spray bottle, created my intentions, and chose my initial colours.

Apart from the central motif, I had nothing planned for this painting.  I approached it similarly to how I describe the process in my Guide to Intuitive Painting.

This time I started with puddles of water and Golden High Flow acrylic colours.  I just wanted to play. Layers and layers of play as I massaged and moved colour and loving energy onto the canvas.

I know I “waste” a lot of very expensive paint the way I do things, but letting go of all that is definitely part of the creative process.

Once that was dry (which took so long, even with the hairdryer), I added layers and layers and hours and hours of mark-making. This is a truly meditative practice that brings such a state of inner peace. It’s all about being right here, right now. No planning, no knowing where it’s all going – I rarely do. Intuitive painting is all about loving the mystery.

07_wip-Dominique Hurley-IMG_8915Once that was dry, I added a very watery glaze of gold over the whole painting to unify it. Adding water to fluid gold paint by Golden Artist Colors Inc. releases the tiny mica particles that float, disperse and puddle. It’s magical to watch. Mica is a group of multi-layered transparent minerals that symbolically and energetically infuse the the painting and those in its proximity with awareness, love and compassion. Appropriate, don’t you think?

Last night, once the glaze was dry, I used a spatula knife to fill the stencil with 2 kinds of acrylic mediums. I used Light Molding Paste for her face and his hair and used Clear Granular Gel for his face and her hair.  I then peeled it back to realize that leaving the mouth and space behind him empty weren’t a good idea.  No worries, by this morning, the mediums were dry enough to put the stencil back on, and I filled those spaces with Glass Bead Gel.

I still have no idea where this is going, but that’s perfectly fine – it’s actually more fun that way.  I’ve already had all sorts of ideas while rebounding on my mini-trampoline and looking at it.  But I’ll wait until the mediums are dry before making any decisions. Although the molding paste will dry white, the granular gel and glass beads will be clearer (although I’ve never used them this thick before – we’ll see!).  I ‘m having visions of pearl, gold, and dark blue, but I’m not committing to that yet.

15_wip-Dominique Hurley-IMG_8929Well, now is the time for patience. I need to let that dry for the day, so it’s back to the books in preparation for B-School.

Are you loving the mystery?

CLICK HERE FOR PART 2

 

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New Painting: “The Holy Instant”

The Holy Instant-views-Dominique HurleyIntroducing:  “The Holy Instant”, 15″ x 30″, acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas (no framing required) – SOLD

I keep thinking every next post will be a short one, but there’s a whole story behind this painting – one that started way before I painted it and continually evolved during the process. I’m sure it won’t end there either.

Fortunately and unfortunately, I got so much into the painting process that I forgot to photograph many of the steps along the way.  In the end, however, this painting has between 12-20 visible layers and countless invisible layers that I have yet to discover.

The Photo That Started It All:

I was at my housemate’s son’s girlfriend’s apartment for dinner one night.  Actually, she was renting it from one of her friends who happened to own two of my paintings – cool, eh?  It was a lovely evening – the company, the food, the atmosphere, the music.  I’m not sure how the technology worked, but I think the music was connected to the large flat screen TV on the wall that had a rotating wildlife photography slideshow on it. I recognized a few as famous shots.

A male red bird of paradise performing the practice of plumage display at a tree-top lek, where the males gather. The two central tail feathers, which are black and ribbonlike, have a plastic feel. Credit: Tim Laman

A male red bird of paradise performing the practice of plumage display at a tree-top lek, where the males gather. The two central tail feathers, which are black and ribbonlike, have a plastic feel. Credit: Tim Laman

There was this one photo, however, that literally took my breath away.  I had a difficult time being present with my hosts every time this image appeared on screen.  It was as if it was sending vibrations of pure love through every cell of my being, elevating my spirit beyond the here and now to a space of timelessness.  Try navigating that while trying to hold dinner conversation…  I finally went up to the TV and waited for it to reappear again so I could take a picture of it to take home with me. I knew I wanted to paint it. I seem to have 3 themes going in the studio: spirit trees, messenger birds, and stylized humans having spiritual experiences.

It was only after I had finished the painting and put Google magic to work (using the words “red, yellow, bird, long tail feathers”) that I found out that this was a red bird of paradise photographed by Tim Laman in the rain forest of Papua New Guinea as part of a National Geographic project.  What would we do without Google!

Personal Symbolism:

The Holy Instant-Dominique HurleyAs I was painting it, it dawned on me why the image may have had such a powerful effect on me.  I kept feeling the presence of the Holy Spirit and figured out that something about this bird reminded me of the many images of a radiating dove with its wings spread open that I had often seen in school or at church as a child – the image that often represents the Holy Spirit.

Before I had figured that out, however, I also felt a Christ-energy coming from it.  Although the head was down, it awoke in me the image of Jesus on the cross with his arms spread open. That wasn’t quite it though. As I was connecting to the energy, it occurred to me that it was more from the story after that story (not of the crucifixion or even the ascension), but when he came back down again.  There was this whole Heaven to Earth movement going on, a download of Divine Energy that I could not begin to describe (although I have done my best to do so…).

This is the kind of space I was painting in this past couple of weeks, layer after layer.  The fact that the main tail feathers ended up more like a pear-shaped mermaid’s tail is somewhat of an accident. I guess I subconsciously wanted or needed to put a bit of myself in there – the pear-shaped part, not the mermaid.  That brought the union of Heaven and Earth even deeper into the creative process. Then to frame all that with the two long ribbon-like feathers that were almost heart shaped was perfect – especially since I finished it on Valentine’s Day.

Cultural Symbolism:

Of course the name of the bird was perfect for what I’d been experiencing – bird of paradise. I was not surprised, yet totally thrilled to find out that it has had similar symbolism attached to it for two thousand years.  My Google research revealed that it was rumoured to have come from the Heavenly realms, from paradise, and symbolized the miracle of life on Earth.  The bird of paradise brought with it closeness to God or even favor from God.  And as I found on on many tattoo websites,

Because the bird is usually depicted in flight, those persons wearing a Bird of Paradise tattoo may be announcing to the world that their psychic kinship is with beings who prefer to ‘rise above it all.

It also has a deep spiritual significance for all peoples of Papua New Guinea, who use their feathers and dance their dances to get back the part of themselves that living takes away – a flying spirit.

The Name: “The Holy Instant”

The first name that came to me for this painting was “Holy Spirit”, but I changed my mind as I was listening to my friend read from her study group’s notes on A Course In Miracles (a unique, universal, self-study spiritual thought system that teaches that the way to Love and Inner Peace is through Forgiveness). You may know about the Course in Miracles through the work of Gabrielle Bernstein and Marianne Williamson (who will be in Ottawa on April 30, in Montreal on May 1 and here in St. John’s on May 4th – see details here). As my friend read about the holy instant, I recognized that expansive feeling inside me when I first saw the photo.

“The holy instant is a miniature of Heaven, sent you FROM heaven. …  in the absence of thinking, in the absence of reasserting the magnificent frame around the limited tiny miserable experience of life that you’re having, instead of that, you simply say, “Father, Holy Spirit, what is the truth here?  What is God’s truth here?”… Without that huge frame and all the meanings that you have all agreed to, there’s nothing to stand in the way of the direct experience . . . the simple direct experience of the divinity of everything and provide yourself the avenue for Awakening….The holy instant is a miniature of eternity. It is a picture of timelessness, set in a frame of time.  . . . so the whole of Heaven lies in this instant, borrowed from eternity, and set in time for you.” ~ Paul Tuttle channeling Raj (another name for Jesus), June 18 2011

Doesn’t that sound like what I was trying to describe?  I wouldn’t describe my life as a “limited tiny miserable experience”, but in comparison to living in the holy instant, I get what he’s saying.  My friend was reminded of that passage as I talked about the ornate frame of tangle patterns that I had painted outside of the quiet radiant space in which the bird of paradise existed.  I’m not sure if you can see it, but it all just fits and so this became “The Holy Instant”.

The Making Of:

As I mentioned, I worked on this over the span of a couple of weeks and layer upon layer. I don’t have many photos of the creative process, but have included what I have.

 

And here are a bunch of detail shots from the finished painting.

The cool thing, as always when I use Golden’s interference paints, is that in certain lights and from certain angles, you cannot see the radiant iridescent blue glaze on the left side of the canvas and violet on the right. The painting transforms as you move. It’s truly magical. That’s why a photo of many of my paintings cannot yet replicate the experience of being with an original. Still, I tried to capture it here for you.  These are not before and after shots, but photographs taken at slightly different angles.

The Holy Instant-sideview-Dominique Hurley“The Holy Instant” – SOLD
15″ x 30″
Acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas
(no framing required)

Go to my shop to see all available paintings & reproductions.

What do you think?

Or, more importantly,

how do you feel as you look at it?

Feel free to comment below.

 

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