Sweet Misery - Saviour
A soft hand upon her face as a new day dawns, fresh… with no mistakes in it. In the eyes of her child she sees compassion, unconditional love and a willingness from him to lend her his strength when hers fails.
No matter how alone we feel we are in our own thoughts, torment and pain, we only have to open our hearts and let the people who care about us in, drop all the pretence and allow them to care and help.
There is always hope.
This has been a very confronting journey for me personally. Like most women I am possessed of a healthy dose of vanity and the thought of presenting myself devoid of the smoke and mirrors I usually employ in my self portraits scared me shitless to be perfectly honest.
So your response to this series has touched me so incredibly deeply that I just cannot thankyou all enough. For those who were brave enough to come with me on this journey, and for all those who left your amazing comments and gave your support via bmail, you have my heartfelt thanks.
This is the final image in my Sweet Misery Series.
Sweet Misery - Saviour belongs to the following groups:
Self as Other Available for sale asGreeting Cards and Matted Prints
Lisa Jewell
I’m deeply moved Bellababe, the entire series has been very confronting….you are right there is always hope.
Wonderful work….
Rhana Griffin
replied
{{{{{insert very large pink fluffy dressing gown cuddle here}}}}}
There is always hope darlin… no matter how bleak things may seem at times. This has been so emotionally draining and yet fulfilling at the same time… thankyou for walking beside me.
Now… I have to go WASH MY HAIR!!! (laughs)
Paul Vanzella
oh my goodness… I won’t lie, but this brings a tear to my eye… just so touching and a depiction of incredible true interaction. The tonal qualities, the grain and light all add to the pure quality of this image… One of your most amazing shots Rhana.. SENSATIONAL!
Rhana Griffin
replied
(hands Paul a tissue) You are such a tenderheart Paul =)
My little man was so incredibly patient with me this morning, we had a hard time with the light for this one (having to rely on the fickle sun playing peek-a-boo with the clouds) Thank you, also, for walking beside me through this series and for your absolutely amazing, supportive comments.
Kym Breeze
Oh this is stunning, and makes me teary as well, I can so relate to this image(having two beautiful boys, who have given me this same look of love when I needed it most) I am sorry to have missed the journey with this series, have been trying to catch up with ii though…Well done powerful heartfelt work. -:) xoxo
Rhana Griffin
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Thanks so much Kym {{hugs}} The whole point of this series was to evoke emotion and it fills me with a sense of a job well done to know that these images have touched people, although some of them in not a very pleasant way. XX
vonne
Beautiful!
Irene Burdell
This series has been very though provoking and and I am pleased you gave it a happy ending .
Excellent work and beautifully written.
Rhana Griffin
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Irene, I have to admit this was a much sweeter ending than I had planned. My original concept was to have the childs hand grabbing at her skirt as she was about to step off a chair, in a room full of rafters if you get my drift. But this series touched so many people on a deep emotional level that I felt I needed to lift it at the end.
Thanks so much Irene {{{{hugs}}}}
kazza49
My dear Rhan – how beautiful is this creation, so loving and gentle. Lovely to see.
Great series
Rhana Griffin
replied
It’s pretty damn cool hey Karen? I was going to use Codstar too but he had permanent ink all over his hands and face – and no… that won’t surprise you in the slightest ;) Love to you xxx
Helene Kippert
Beautiful portrait Rhana – very moving
roybarry
Rhana, such an upbeat and emotional finale to what has been a fantastically dark and gritty series. Well done to you for having the balls to produce such stunning Art.
Rhana Griffin
replied
Thanks so much Roy, another who has walked beside me through this series. Not my usual bambies and butterflies full of colour that jumps off the page at you so I really appreciate that you stuck it out.
Andy Harris
beautiful shot and a great message of hope at the end of the series… excellent work!
Rhana Griffin
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Andy, with me… there ALWAYS has to be hope. I’m a glass half full kinda gal. Many thanks for your support my friend.
billyboy
The unconditional love you mention in your description does have much to do with your series as you show it as the one thing that is capable of pulling you out of your misery. But I see this image more as outside the confines of your series because the most powerful thing about it is the way the unconditional love works both ways. We don’t choose our natural born children just as our children don’t choose us. There is a genetic bonding that is so much stronger than that which exists between lovers. The love between lovers can destroy, but the love between a parent and child can only heal. Your picture brings this home like none I’ve seen before… it’s all in the natural eye contact, so free of pretense. Just pure trust knowing that the love is real and true and there forever. What could heal better than that?
Rhana Griffin
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BB, as always you hit the nail on the head… dead centre too! I’m not so sure about the “our children don’t choose us” theory though. I have a belief that they actually do… but I won’t get into a theological discussion here, we’ll leave that for another time perhaps.
Thankyou for being you, and for your love and support with this series. {{{hugs}}}
Paul Tupman
This is really wonderful Rhana.. and such a warm contrast to the other images from the series. A fantastic and heartening climax to the work. The expressions caught here are very honest and its a pleasure to see a relationship between mother and daughter caught so well. This must have been a series that was so well worth doing for you if only to capture this one shot.. Great work!
Geoff Coleman...
Rhana I love that idea about the chair jump and the child’s reach – mega-powerful or what!! – I can just visualise it – would LOVE to see it.
But as for this one…. it is the authenticity of the emotion here that is so palpable it reaches out and grabs you by the tearducts! What an amazing relationship with your son you must have for him to participate in a shot like this – most boys this age won’t let you take a shot of them PERIOD. But a shot as nakedly loving and connected as this – absolutely astonishing and to get it from the other side of the lens – woman you leave a person breathless with wonder.
kazza49
Dear Rhana you have been doing some really great work. Haven’t been able to comment cause i’ve just worked out how to get in again. The whole series has been fantastic well done. Yes I can visualise codstar with ink all over him but your big boy has done a fantastic job. Well done
Love tyo you all xxxxx
Irene Burdell
Oh no that would have been far too sad , I am glad you ended it as you did. It is superb work and to touch the heatrts of people who have been in a situation like that . A true story teller .
Well done . You should think about writing a book .
cdwork
Emotive portraiture
Michelle Avery
My god – that is sooo true. Beautiful shot that says so much.
MissKristy
sigh relief…
Damn…
I made the mistake of catching up on this series all in one go and it has me shaking. What a journey…
Deborah Parkin
I can favourite this one LOL!!! Nothing to add to the picture really – it says it all.
JudyBJ
Very beautiful and full of feelings
Lisa Jewell
Bellababe,
If I could favourite this again – I would….
XOXOXOXO
Steven Sandner
Brilliant work!
Charles McKean
Fab