DOORS OF BREATH

Artist designer + founder Sonya Rothwell's figurative works begin open, without intention, and end with an important subconscious message she needs to hear. Sonya shares her thoughts on one of her self portraits 'O YOU, THE DOORS OF BREATH, SEAL ONCE MY PEONY BLOOMS' painted shortly after she lost her dear friend Elizabeth Montgomery to cancer. The hardest part of her friend's passing was knowing that Liz would not get to watch her flowers bloom. Sonya no longer feels this way. Life causes us to expand, and her understanding of death has changed – she no longer fears the doors of breath ☆

This painting came to me in a dream. It explores the eternal cycle of life&death and the protective love a mother has for her child ♡

In the painting I take a deep etheric breath as my daughter Peony, my walking flower of the world,^^ wilfully holds the gaze of the viewer. We are separate and we are one, for now at least, we are entwined ☆

Peony is my mirror, I see myself in her reflection. She is an old soul, wise beyond her 6 years and often amazes me with her insightful observations. She's a kind, open, loving, strong, confident and independent child – qualities I have tried to instill in her, just as my mother did in me. My primeval, maternal instinct is to nurture and guide her until she is ready to stand alone ☆

Before Peony was born I didn't fear the doors of breath because we're eternal. Death itself still doesn't frighten me, but knowing that it can bring untimely separation, in this lifetime, does. Over this we are powerless. All one can do is let the heavens bathe us in light and enjoy each moment that we are together ♡

^ In reference to Roemo's final speech in 'Romeo and Juliet' by William Shakespeare
^^ from the poem 'Lovely One' by Pablo Neruda

'Lovely One' by Pablo Neruda

Lovely one,
Just as on the cool stone
Of the spring, the water
Opens a wide flash of foam,
So is the smile of your face,
Lovely one.

Lovely one,
With delicate hands and slender feet
Like a silver pony,
Walking, flower of the world,
Thus I see you,
Lovely one.

Lovely one,
With a nest of copper entangled
On your head, a nest
The colour of dark honey
Where my heart burns and rests,
Lovely one.

Lovely one,
Your eyes are too big for your face,
Your eyes are too big for the earth.

There are countries, there are rivers,
In your eyes,
My country is your eyes,
I walk through them,
They light the world
Through which I walk,
Lovely one.

... omitted verses ...

Lovely one, my lovely one,
Your voice, your skin, your nails,
Lovely one, my lovely one,
Your being, your light, your shadow,
Lovely one,
All that is mine, lovely one,
All that is mine, my dear,
When you walk or rest,
When you sing or sleep,
When you suffer or dream,
Always,
When you are near or far,
Always,
You are mine, my lovely one,
Always.

Musings from founder Sonya Rothwell whose art is available from gallerybeautiful.com ☆ Proceeds of sales support our charities helping deprived children live better lives ♡