The Sophia
The Sophia, in Jewish mysticism, was the personification of the female counterpart to god. She epitomized wisdom, and was looked upon as a deity that was elusive but could be searched out and found. The name Sophia itself is Greek and means wisdom, being the root in such words as philoSOPHY, SOPHIST, etc. Later religious groups, like some early christian sects, debased her as a heretical figure- her wisdom being superficial and of a false kind.
I personally like the idea of a female godhead, and in this enlightened age I thought it well to represent her in my own style and art. I looked to other female goddess roles for inspiration- Demeter, Minerva, Diana, etc. There seems to be an overwhelming degree of identification with the most popular- and powerful- female deities with the earth, with life, and with death. Of course in the real world woman do carry much of this burden- or blessing, however you look at it- like childbirth, and the stereotypical nurturing roles, etc. Men like myself are able to be brats and run off from our duties with family and home and life, pursuing silly things like war and death and the ‘sporting’ lifestyle.
The Sophia in this painting resides at her place in the cosmos- at once beautiful, stoic, matriarchal and proud. Flower petals symbolizing life fall from her fingertips, but there is brevity in this gift. The skull at her feet is death and the inevitable end of life, yet the skull remains after all else has decomposed; a permanence to this cycle. Accepting this truth and understanding it’s beauty can be enlightening and a release.
Original painting was completed in watercolor, gouache, and some acrylic on Crescent illustration board, circa 2007.
The Sophia belongs to the following groups:
Painters In Modern TimesAvailable for sale as Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints and Framed Prints
Roz McQuillan, 10 months ago
Fabulous picture Keelan!
Jessica Tremp, 10 months ago
love what you’ve done with this
Kayleen West, 10 months ago
Your work is incredible . I just love it!
funkyfacestudio, 10 months ago
Beautiful work !
grthink, 10 months ago
Another wonderful painting—this one reminds me of Klimt, with a bitof Macintosh thrown on. The expression on your subject’s face is really interesting and ambigous, which I think works perfectly for what you were intending.
Dorian, 10 months ago
Just like a modern Gustav Klimt!!! Beautiful!
Peter Coleman, 10 months ago
wow, you have really painted life into that face.
burntblue, 10 months ago
wow! this is gorgeous and very powerful
bluerabbit, 10 months ago
Beautiful, meticulous, and original work. I love the way you encorporate mythology into your paintings. They are filled with silence. I mean that as a great complement. The literal face and the palette is certainly reminiscent of Klimt.
Juilee Pryor, 10 months ago
I just love your work. You have a true gift.
Helene Kippert, 10 months ago
Fantastic – love it!
Damian, 9 months ago
Beautiful work, and a very thoughtful one. I’ve always liked the idea of the Sophia.
Chris Willis, 9 months ago
Keelan…this is wonderful art….I’ve just ‘discovered’ your bubble…and I’m so very glad that I did. I love her hands and the flowers she holds. Colour and patterning are fantastic. Well done.
Firedrake, 9 months ago
Love the face in this one, and the geometric patterns
Al Neaimi, 8 months ago
great work
Alice McMahon ..., 8 months ago
I love your style and especially your ideas!
Adriana Owens, 8 months ago
The is excellent, I love the hint of Klimt in there…
MuscularTeeth
,
8 months ago
totally top work !
ronnie1, 7 months ago
LOVELY WORK!
Natalie Perkins, 7 months ago
This is painfully and delicately beautiful
Karin Taylor, 6 months ago
you are a most amazing artist Keelan, this is an incredible piece…so impressed
Becc Orszag, 6 months ago
This so reminds me of work by Klimt. I love that its a painting, yet somethign feels digital about it, gives it a real modern twist and teh flowers just pop, facial expression just right.
ideasinmotion, 5 months ago
keelan,
you are special. thank you for the depth…you and your work. did you ever think ….that there is no opposite to life? i enjoy this concept or truth. whichever it is. it feels truth to me. nothing ever really dies…it just transforms.
my best and gratitude,
s.clifton
Terri Rose, 5 months ago
Stunning!
brianjarvis, 5 months ago
neat
brotherabbit, 5 months ago
Great piece. Love your style. Love the idea behind the piece.
linskudd, 5 months ago
Great work.
lidiasimeonova, 5 months ago
Really nice portfolio. I am a bif fan of yours! Lidia
Al Neaimi, 5 months ago
This is fantastic!
Michael Barnes, 4 months ago
this is great, reminds me of someone I used to work with!
James Lillis, 3 months ago
You are super-talented as an artist. Are you referring to the gnostics when you mention Jewish mysticism…? Which Christian sect specifically forbade Sophia worship? Just curious :)
mithrandir9x, 3 months ago
Wonderful work, as is all of your work. A pleasure to view and contemplate.
Rachel Aponte, 3 months ago
this is amazing! i absolutely love it!
Chris White, 2 months ago
Top shelf
Brandylynn, 2 months ago
So glad to have found your work here.