A Clockwork Crow
A Clockwork Crow
by Paul D Robertson
Pastels,
100×85cms
Winning Piece, 2002
Wongan Hills
Art Awards
Sold.
This piece is important to me. It provides a clear example, perhaps the most clear I have, of the narrative symbolism that lies at the core of my work.
I am an existentialist. This sounds complex (it isn’t), and a lot of people don’t know what it means exactly so I will explain briefly. It comes basically from working out how to live in the absence of a belief in God; from atheism.
If God is removed from our ideas about what constitutes our lives, then it would seem that what we are would be, by that very fact, diminished. It denies us the framework that has traditionally defined our place in the universe, and it also appears to deny what generates the fundamentals of our morality. I don’t believe that this is the case.
Existentialism means that we exist, and that is all. There is no afterlife in this belief, no final judgment or even, for that matter, a judge. It doesn’t allow for the reassuring presence of a mighty being watching over us and directing the events of the world. So it seems that the meaning of our lives is less. But it works differently for me.
That our lives have a finite and absolute end does more than leave us homeless and lost in the void. The only thing that is certain in our future is the surety of our own death. This sounds bleak, and in many ways it is. But what it also does is apply to our lives and existence an ultimate importance to us, a preciousness that comes from the very belief that life is fleeting. It gives each moment that we live power and BEAUTY because this is all we have.
This is what most of my work is about.
Clockwork Crow is a potent example. I use narrative symbolism because of its clarity to me personally, and I try and accomplish beauty through aesthetics as part of the narrative: this is where I find meaning in my life – in the exquisite splendour of the instant that we exist.
People have different interpretations, always – art is subjective after all. But what I intended when I painted it was very clear to me.
The beautiful girls holding each other… it is the perfect and absolute moment. They are doomed to change and this is what defines their beauty and gives it value and importance. They are comforting each other in the face of this.
The crow in the window symbolizes change and death. The clock represents the inevitable passage of time.
We are trapped in the moment, if it really is all that we have. If religion – God – is removed from belief: then we must find comfort and solace, we must find MEANING in each instant we exist.
It is THIS that constitutes out lives.
A Clockwork Crow belongs to the following groups:
All Things Poetic, Artistic, Philosophical, Love & Romance , Out of the Blue (75%+ Blue), Practising the Dark Arts, Realist Traditional Art, Spiritual Art and The Artistic Nude
michael51
Oh mate you are a icon of your own mind mate you are so brillant I love your work fantastic
pauldrobertson replied
thank you as always my friend
Trace Lowe
Wow, this is so brilliant.
transmute
Existentialism = freedom
pauldrobertson replied
thanks chris. i believe so also.
Suzanne German
Ah Paul – I love what you painted and I LOVE what you wrote…You echo my sentiments ABSOLUTELY! ......gorgeous stuff truly!!! Life is not a rehearsal….(this is what I believe so much deep deep down) we get one shot at it – it needs to be REAL about what we are, what we feel, what we want and want to experience. Our existence is defined by our selves…as you so aptly put it. To be able to live our lives with arms wide open and let in what we want and go and hunt down and bring to our selves what we need, want, feel…YES this is IT!!! Like the space you’re in at the moment…GOOD space to be in Paul…
love to you
Suzanne x
Tom Godfrey
Fantastic! and so well supported by the comment. I now know what existentialism is, often wondered, but was too lazy to find out :)
Karen Cougan
this is outstanding Paul….exceptionally beautiful…...........not for sale either…......shame about that…......continue on your wonderful journey….........thanks for sharing
xkc
Tony Ryan
Hi Paul. Another beautiful image. Absolutely love the colours. Found the writing really interesting too. Very provoking for me. I too love beauty and feel we should embrace beauty and life to it’s fullest. However I differ in that I really do believe eternal life is possible but not if we live in the way that most do now. Funnily enough I believe if people lived as you suggest. ie; Embracing each and every moment that we would become so much healthier and happier. Perhaps these sort of people may even change the way we view life and God.
Jen Whyte
We cannot possibly learn or experience everything we have to in one lifetime therefore I believe that the soul is born into the flesh time and time again until all has been achieved …. this would be a very boring world if we all beliebved the same thing! we still must live every life to the full!
Your ability with art is simply astounding … this painting is so beautiful and exudes such purity of spirit with the most incredible light quality …. you have such wonderful insight too …. thank you my friend for the simplicity and complexity that is you!
aspectsoftmk
as i sit and read and look and read again and look deeper i forget to breathe. masterful imagery this is wonderful work….and the words in my mind….terri
Crowmanic
I love the painting… and the crow I can relate… though the philosophy/statement re existentialism? well that I’ll leave … thx for sharing your gifting. ;-)
mysteryfaith
yes: this is not the dress rehersal…. this is the actual play… yes, this life is short..life.. it is a precious thing.. we are here to live, love… love.. what a thing it is.. it changes everything… once we find… the love our heart, mind, body, and soul is searching for..nothing is better… nothing…
Kristal
beautful work
Peter Evans
Maaaate!!
What a lot of far too serious bs.
I really do love your work but…....
I think you are FAR too self absorbed.
You need to get out more and enjoy life.
To me your more fatalistic than existentialistic…whatever that is!
My advice, and I give you this because you are very talented and I’d hate to see that wither and die at your age, is to release yourself from yourself, see more than yourself.
Find love, real love and your life will blossom, share yourself.
Have kids and you will live forever (although you may not think so at the time :
) ).)Now go and have a beer on me :
Gary Crandall
Just coming upon your pages of writings and art at this late date, but they resonate deeply with my own beliefs…
“This sounds bleak, and in many ways it is. But what it also does is apply to our lives and existence an ultimate importance to us, a preciousness that comes from the very belief that life is fleeting. It gives each moment that we live power and BEAUTY because this is all we have.” ...
These words especially, so precisely expressed, sum up my own world view… and give hope to all fellow Bubblers out there… Thank you for your candor, Paul…
pauldrobertson replied
thank you for your careful respnse gary
pauldrobertson replied
thank you for your careful respnse gary
pauldrobertson replied
thank you for your careful respnse gary
pauldrobertson replied
thank you for your careful respnse gary
Alex LaGreca
omg…you are so talented…do you have your own studio??
pauldrobertson replied
well uh… you could say so… i have a 2 bedroom flat covered in paint that i rent. thank you for your kind words… as you obviously paint also, i would suggest or rather recommentd you read ‘paul’s painting tips’
which are not only useful but also hilarious :)
thanks again – paul
Tollwut
GREAT!
TerraChild
stunning
Stephen Rowsell
excellent work, congrats on the well-deserved feature. there’s a real sense of emotion in this painting
Marcella Chestnut
Hey, signed in and recognized this right away… congratulations on being featured this morning!!!
Dominic Melfi
Excellent
JuliaWright
Wow!!! awesome, wonderful words!!!
darkestartist
beautifully done. excellent symbolism.
Tatiana R
Beautiful work, congratulations!
marillu79
Powerful and so tender..! It is so beautiful and full of emotions !
Logan Fulcher
We’re going to die! We’re going to live all the way there! We will never stop! You will never stop. You’re an equalizer.
Logan Fulcher
100 paintings save 1000 souls.
Logan Fulcher
1000 freed souls will paint at least one painting each…
Logan Fulcher
or at least create themselves in some more permanent form. You are a ripple.
pauldrobertson replied
thank you, this was beautiful and exceptionally so – We’re going to die! We’re going to live all the way there!
i LOVE this line
i don’t understand the ‘equliaser’
but i disagree. i am not a ripple. look harder. harder. read more. i am not a ripple.
it is hard to see, but that fits metaphors rarely so taylored nor sharp –
i am not a ripple. i am the tide.
pauldrobertson
here – fixed the punctuation -
thank you, this was beautiful and exceptionally so – We’re going to die! We’re going to live all the way there!
i LOVE this line… “we’re going to die! We’re going to live all the way there!”
i don’t understand the ‘equaliser.’ what do you mean?
and for the last holostic phrase…
i disagree. i am not a ripple. look harder. harder. read more. i am not a ripple.
it is hard to see, but that, fits metaphors are rarely so taylored nor sharp – let alone scented of salt and waves and sea.
i am not a ripple. i am the tide.
missmoneypenny
I love the use of tone in this artwork – it’s an exceptional piece
JoAnnHayden
A stunning work of art to be sure, executed beautifuly
Zuzana
wonderful work!!
martinz
Hello Paul-I haven’t met you -but I know you are a friend-your words your work is beautiful and enlightening-alone but never lonely-kind regards Martin
Larasolnishko
your talanted paintings will live forever, the same as tide on the sea coast…happy to find you on redbubble…you are wonderful!