Through a Glass Darkly
I like this piece very much. Sometimes in my work THIS IS THE big version AND THE BETTER ONE FOR PRINTS.
...
I can witness myself taking leaps of quality, and I believe that this is one of those times.
It is an indescribable sensation to see my own hands make something such as this. I begin the with a person, a woman, before me, some materials – paper, chalk, paint.At the end of the slow still hours quickening my fingers, I surface from the fugue and wake from the trance of working. And sometimes I have something before me that is beautiful that did not exist, that what the world did not hold before I began. And it will last for centuries.I love the idea of obscured reflections and scattered and refracted light – my desire to work is pushed further every time I stumble upon something I know I must pursue.In many of my works, whenever it is practical, I will place a left-hand print on a wall or smudging a piece of glass. I have done this for years, and I will never stop. Recently the idea occurred to me that since this has become one of the defining symbols within my work, I could execute a piece based entire on the idea. So I made it happen. I forced it into existence.
And I am so left handed, you see, that I almost walk with a limp.
and
AND!
“I believe in never.
I believe in all the way.” – Smashing pumpkins
So you don’t take the time take the moments spin the bottle spill the blood?
Ah well ah HELL
The word hell is from the Norse word Hel – this described both the goddess and the place that she ruled. Everyone went there and it was crappy, unless you got stabbed or chopped up with an axe in which case you got to go to Valhalla.
And in Valhalla you got to get into fights. Forever. And there was endless beer.
I remember endless beer.
It was nice. Beery.
So we dip our wings and sigh. Sigh in slightly inconsistent, in-harmonic, clipped shuddering sighs – and only a sliver of love out of synch’.
I know there is no happy ending for this; that there cannot be.
And sure, I know. I know that you – that you have heard the words and maybe read some of them. The urgency. The force of it.
What else is there for me? For ME?
Have some more.
HAVE.
SOME.
MORE.
Circles building up in me in that release-less frenetic energy making me blink fast and move fast. Boots hanging off me and the laces really do look chewed though I didn’t not recently at least.
Got that lettered up feeling – heat boiling off me feel the air ripple and coil as I breathe out . Heat for each distil phalange (these are the words for finger-tips do they not slip onto the ends of your hands?)
Still feel the smell of her on me though I guess it’s not pale honey and nightmarish need colouring my eyes not hers though I am hoping hoping.
Forgot what it was like to feel like this so wide open crushable –flawed and ruin-ready – Lit up like a six-fingered passion, a design a metaphor a need.
I remember every point of flesh, mouths meeting over muted susurrations and terrified more than most times.
Toes all bent up and down and pushing so hard not to frighten her that I almost say nothing,
Flood of words damned with sand and ashes and flowers now; flowers.
Real and real and real. And you – here- Stretched against me a catch thickening my throat
And hey -
There might be something windblown and scarred,
A moment for us to press against our cheek,
A plate for us to hold it to.
Out there somewhere. Sure.
My own memory is a scratched cup, a bent fork.
Blown out like surf or a candle,
‘a light bulb a curse or a mind.
Warmth and comfort, solace and weight
Wait,
Wait!
I need more than you were and are.
The sum of your parts is less than the whole.
And your voice is gone.
This rage and its partner.
They can bring us jewels, my love
We can have
Jewels.
You.
And I.
- Paul.
Through A Glass Darkly.
By Paul D Robertson
Pastels
140 cms x 97
I like this piece very much. Sometimes in my work I can witness myself taking leaps of quality, and I believe that this is one of those times.
It is an indescribable sensation to see my own hands make something such as this. I begin the with a person, a woman, before me, some materials – paper, chalk, paint.
At the end of the slow still hours quickening my fingers, I surface from the fugue and wake from the trance of working. And sometimes I have something before me that is beautiful that did not exist, that what the world did not hold before I began. And it will last for centuries.
I love the idea of obscured reflections and scattered and refracted light – my desire to work is pushed further every time I stumble upon something I know I must pursue.
In many of my works, whenever it is practical, I will place a left-hand print on a wall or smudging a piece of glass. I have done this for years, and I will never stop. Recently the idea occurred to me that since this has become one of the defining symbols within my work, I could execute a piece based entire on the idea. So I made it happen. I forced it into existence.
And I am so left handed, you see, that I almost walk with a limp.
Through a Glass Darkly belongs to the following groups:
All Things Orange Artwork Gallery, ! Inspired Art !, All Things Poetic, Artistic, Philosophical, Art of Erotic Visions, Artists with Disabilities, Blue Room, Contemporary Pastel Painters (2 per day), Gods and Goddesses, Hands, Painters In Modern Times, Safe Haven, Spiritual Art, Stillness Speaks **Max 2 uploads per day** {{No NUDES, ABSTRACT, CANDIDS or ACTION IMAGES}}, Symbolism in Art, The Healing Journey and WA Red Bubbles Available for sale asGreeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints, Framed Prints and Posters

Kym Breeze
Paul your skill with pastels is fantastic, I love the light in this and her blurred reflection, well done yet again, your work is very inspiring no matter what medium you use.
Louise Gibbs
What a beautiful piece of art, your work is amazing.
louisaeet
wow this is awsome : ) i love how smooth and life like the blended colours are and that youve done it in pastels is even more amazing : ) I wish i could do such detailed work with pastels.
Torfinn Johann...
Excellent colours, composition, and expression. Well done!
Tom Godfrey
Sheer visual poetry
pauldrobertson
thanks folks :)q
Mark German
I love this so much. Beautiful in every way.
brummieboy
This is just so beautiful ….
Shauna Noble
loved it before – love it now – it has a softness about the whole work – congrats
Nikki Farrow
Very nice !
Bluetiger
Wow, what a beautiful piece of art!
denisethigpen
This is incredible!
Ross Krambergar
Now that is brilliant
pauldrobertson
thank you all so very much. the deepest flattery is from our peers. i feel privelidged to have such comments on my work. thank you.
menqtsai
Wow, this is beautiful. Awsome!
BarbBarcikKeith
Fantastic work.. and I understand waking from a trance very well.. I find you very articulate.. happy to meet you.
pauldrobertson
thanks er – keith? pleased to meet you also.
Paul Vanzella
Love your style here Paul – wonderful highlights, love the way you’ve worked the light and form into her left hand… cool work!!!
Dakolina
I like her feet. and I love all your work… you remindme of that guy with long hair in Heros… the painter that is
Joanna Clark
Fantastic piece of art work, it’s beautiful
maiboo
amazing!
lex7
I have seen this around, but never really stopped to comment. Beatuiful colors, and the use of light in the painting is perfect. I don’t know much about pastels.. but this is gorgeous.
TYLER HOLLIS
Paul- your effect of light and shadows combined with such a luminous subject tell this story to perfection. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen such a talent with pastels. Kudos!
kimwild
Awesome… speaks volumes!
Daniela Weil
Beautiful artwork!
Michael Davies
This one attracted me the most. Well done!
ktowers
Beautiful work… Really like this, it has a great feel to it , really soft and dreamy
Joanne Piechota
This is beautiful!!!!
Belinda "Billy...
You are a clever man.
megm991
Great painting and writing.
pauldrobertson
thank you all… :)
i dunno what i did without posting here…
thanks :)
Trevor Armstrong
beautiful piece of art, Well Done!
Jacqueline Baker
magical, mystical, stirs the soul and speaks of a place that we only see through dimly lit glasses!
bamagirl38
THIS IS FANTASTIC !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Erika Harm
Beautiful work, and wonderful execution of the atmosphere. :D
eramophla
great use of colour and light
George Yesthal
Absolutely breathtaking. Great job.
Carole Russell
This is just lovely. Great light and shade
mediasynthesis
Simply gorgeous. Your work speaks volumes.
David Harris
Stunning work! I love this!! You have a great talent!
pauldrobertson
thank you all so very, very much
Robert O'Neill
Nice work Paul.
Beth Lambert
Brilliant, pure, whimsical…yet at the same time thoughtful. Very good work
steen
wondeful dreamy view…love it
plausome
I like this very much. It has a glow and a dreaminess about it and a love that comes though in the execution. There are worlds within this painting. you captured her spirit in the moment, this girl will never grow old, on the eye or on the calender.
pauldrobertson replied
beautiful comment, thank you plausome
David J. Vande...
Your work is awesome! I enjoy seeing how you paint and work the lights and shadows. Well done!
eddiepark
Beautiful art piece!
MaryK
This is beautiful! I love your attention to detail… the light hitting her hair and the hand print on the mirror. Your work could be mistaken for a photograph.
Robert O'Neill
The ‘girl’ seems to have a glow about her. Great work.
Niki Renee
ya know I’ve looked at your work you have an excellant talent seriously wonderfully done wow
pauldrobertson replied
thanks doll. it means a great deal to me
vanvic
This is beautiful work
pauldrobertson replied
thank you ms vanessa, she is a beautiful girl
steveberlin
really nice!
pauldrobertson replied
cheers steve :)
Steve McKenzie
this is so clever and so are you with your artistic skills
Stefán Kristin...
This is fantastic image! I just said WOW immediently when I saw this picture.
sunsetrainbow
Very nice
maria paterson 6 days ago
beautiful image
artisandelimage 5 days ago
bravo !
my best, your host (francis).
(your vote is needed here !)
eoconnor 5 days ago
this is so well done ,quiet ,great drawing and composition .Pleasing you have talent LIZ