“Pennants, Flowers & Butterflies” © by Donna Gonzalez
This acrylic mosaic painting is made up of one floral mosaic which is arranged into a specific pattern. The pattern is duplicated a dozen times with each layer positioned over the previous layer but offset slightly at an angle. The result is this dizzying random pattern.
It’s tedious to make an artwork like this because it takes many hours and requires a lot of patience…and coffee. Yet fun nonetheless. But what makes this artwork so special is what is not seen. One has to wait patiently for the hidden images to emerge. And in this day and age waiting is an acquired virtue. It’s an optical illusion.
God’s fingerprints are once again seen in this artwork and it’s always amazing and humbling to me because paintings like this which at first glance appear to be a random mess of sequential patterns, without anything worth noticing; once deciphered will eventually serve a greater purpose and give glory to God. Now that is cool beans!
To see the hidden images in this artwork you’ll have to sit back and relax, cross your eyes staring at the center of the painting, [the lower image is larger and easier], adjust your focus a bit and you should slowly start to see rows of triangular pennants with flowers blinking all around, with tiny butterflies floating among the flowers as they “pop out”. Now I’d gladly draw a highlight around the hidden images to show you but doing so involves me crossing my eyes while using my mouse – not good! LOL!
Iconography: The rows of flag pennants is interesting, a pennant can be a military flag and aren’t Christians in God’s army? Is not the Father God also Lord God of Hosts? A synonym for a pennant is a banner, and God’s banner over us is love. Song of Solomon 2:4
Flowers: Matthew 6:28-30 There are several references to flowers in the bible, however; these flowers “blink” they quickly appear and disappear. James reminds us so does the wealth of the rich. James 1:10-11
Butterflies: Butterflies were once pudgy earthbound caterpillars, consuming and devouring all day long, yet they “die” and transform into an entirely new creature from the chrysalis, believers are made a new creature in Christ Jesus. II Corinthians 5:17
So how to put this all into perspective? Sometimes life becomes overwhelming, a seemingly dizzying confusion, like the first glance at this artwork below, with many things vying for our attention, one can loose sight of what is really important, because there is no hierarchy no main element in this painting. In the midst of it all, it can be very hard to see the spiritual promises, God is hidden to us but He’s actually there we just have to refocus a bit. In Christ we are told not worry about anything. If He is truly Lord over our life, He is in control and will supply all that we need; even those things we’ve forgotten to ask or not aware of. Hardship in life can never remove the truth of His word, it may seem hidden but as in the painting below once you’ve seen the iconography you know it’s there. Though tempting, we are commanded not to put our hope or trust in riches or materialism as these things are only temporary. They can never compare to the true riches and promises we have in Christ Jesus. As new creatures in Christ we soar above and beyond the old life, we don’t backslide into doing things the old way because of trials, confusion or persecution. Instead believers are to trust fully our Father is Lord of hosts, who loves us, fights for us and protect us. May God help us to dig deeper, see past the confusion, mess and deceitfulness of the world and refocus on the spiritual promises in Christ Jesus.
Be blessed!
-Donna
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