As I delve further into my artwork, I keep finding myself returning to the iconic lion. It is not only a symbol of power, pride, and strength throughout the cultures and histories of so many people, but it has always been my symbol of protection and bravery.
As a child, I had an imaginary lion friend. At night, he would walk with me through the dark to my parents’ room whenever I had nightmares. If I broke something or did something I wasn’t supposed to, he would take the blame. If I was being scolded, he would sit in the background, glaring at the person who was scolding me, his tail flicking and a scoff in his throat.
Even though we don’t keep our imaginary friends as we grow up, I still think of how this powerful animal was my choice of ‘guardian’.
The flickering candlelight and the ethereal qualities of my medium seemed like a fitting way to portray a protector who was only ever visible in my memories.
The process itself feels chaotic and unpredictable, much like a memory. I have no way of visualizing the final image, instead, I trust the method and guide the artwork as it chooses its shape. Like a memory, the image can be seen but never touched again.
