Everyone knows the pain of a bad break-up, the loss of independence through health reasons; the ridiculous roller-coaster of having to start over again and again. Or do they?
Trinidadian artist Samantha Rochard started this Lotus Flower series in 2009 after a split from her partner of ten years. "My intention was to find something else to focus on besides my crushing despair. In the initial project, I put limitations to size, shapes, in an effort to symbolize the limitations I felt then....limitations in emotions, finances and support which prevented me from healing faster. The Lotus flower (or a version of it) must be present on the drawing, symbolizing beauty ascending from the murky emotional waters I was trying to free myself from. I used coloured pencils, nail polish, inks, acrylic paint; all on watercolour paper. My limitations included the following : The piece must be square (symbol of physical reality) and there must be a circle in it (spiritual me trapped by my physical reality). Some people may think its a bunch of Hoo Ha; but it helped me focus on something else other than the pain." The project is still ongoing, and becomes her outlet for any difficult time in her life. "During any tumultuous period now, the Lotus Flowers are my focus, and I create the drawings till I feel its time to stop for that session." The artist believes that documenting every flower, regardless of their quality was important (from the first confusing, ugly attempt)- as it showed refinement of design when comparing some of the later ones to the earlier ones. "Putting that ugliness out to the public makes me feel very vulnerable. But I am hoping people see the process for what it is, and how the more recent work is shaping up. Some are very beautiful. Creating a blog with the series also allowed me to document the thoughts running through my head pertaining to the situation and the drawing."
Persons interested in seeing the process unfold can look for the blog 100 Lotus Flowers - Samantha Rochard.
"Life has given me a lot of pain......but I have the power to use it to create something; which may or may not be beautiful."
Trinidadian artist Samantha Rochard started this Lotus Flower series in 2009 after a split from her partner of ten years. "My intention was to find something else to focus on besides my crushing despair. In the initial project, I put limitations to size, shapes, in an effort to symbolize the limitations I felt then....limitations in emotions, finances and support which prevented me from healing faster. The Lotus flower (or a version of it) must be present on the drawing, symbolizing beauty ascending from the murky emotional waters I was trying to free myself from. I used coloured pencils, nail polish, inks, acrylic paint; all on watercolour paper. My limitations included the following : The piece must be square (symbol of physical reality) and there must be a circle in it (spiritual me trapped by my physical reality). Some people may think its a bunch of Hoo Ha; but it helped me focus on something else other than the pain." The project is still ongoing, and becomes her outlet for any difficult time in her life. "During any tumultuous period now, the Lotus Flowers are my focus, and I create the drawings till I feel its time to stop for that session." The artist believes that documenting every flower, regardless of their quality was important (from the first confusing, ugly attempt)- as it showed refinement of design when comparing some of the later ones to the earlier ones. "Putting that ugliness out to the public makes me feel very vulnerable. But I am hoping people see the process for what it is, and how the more recent work is shaping up. Some are very beautiful. Creating a blog with the series also allowed me to document the thoughts running through my head pertaining to the situation and the drawing."
Persons interested in seeing the process unfold can look for the blog 100 Lotus Flowers - Samantha Rochard.
"Life has given me a lot of pain......but I have the power to use it to create something; which may or may not be beautiful."
More info: 100lotusflowers.blogspot.com
Forty-Eighth Lotus Flower- Energies flow toward me.
Elven Lotus Flower # 47 - Escaping confinements with fantasy
Egyptian Lotus Flower #46- Learning to see opportunity
Peacock Symmetry #61 - We are all the same person.
Brightest Star Lotus #62 -Don't hide...let your real self shine always
Ninth Lotus Flower
One of the early drawings. I liked this one for its child-like simplicity.