My friends:
Meet Lynden. The man behind St. Victor's Diaries. I had the great fortune of meeting him over the weekend, and seeing his amazing paintings in person. My heart fluttered seeing his collection and it was nothing short of pure magic when I first spotted "Lady Gaia".
Here is his professional bio:
"Lynden Saint Victor is a rarity among acclaimed artists - he never studied art. In keeping with a New Year's resolution to expand his horizons, Saint Victor dipped into his first oil paints on January 1, 2002 and began to make pictures that spoke volumes.
In 2003, the first formal presentation of his work resulted in a sold out show, including thirty-five additional Paint to Order originals, media coverage, multiple gallery offers and a publishing contract.
Saint Victor's works have a uniquely definitive look and feel. Masterfully melding the real and surreal, his bold and beautiful characters grace the walls of some of the most majestic estates as well as the humble abodes of those who have likewise been moved by the brooding sensuality of these works of art, each a virtual novel unto itself.
Saint Victor is aslo an internationally syndicated cartoonist under another name. His daily comic panel, Pardon My Planet, is published by King Features Syndicate and distributed to over 150 daily newspapers throughout the United States and Canada.
An animal activist, Saint Victor donates a percentage of each sale to Underdog Rescue for the rescue and rehabilitation of "death row" shelter dogs."
Did you read that? Never studied art?!? Really??
How much more inspirational can a person be?
The more and more I learned about this fascinating artist and his dedication to an evolving spirituality, the more I felt at home. Kindred souls, indeed.
Given my obsession with balloons, wings, spirit, saints, cowgirl boots, beehives, butterflies and birds...
I knew I was in for a beautiful treat...
Here is the sweet little lady that has found her home with me...
and this is her meaning:
"Lady Gaia is the physical manifestation of our living planet. She is Mother Earth.
Lady Gaia’s striped gloves cover the hands of creation. The black and white stripes represent the forces of dark and light, ying and yang, chaos and order which work together to manifest the metamorphism from simple organism to enlightened being as represented by the butterflies.
Her blowing hair is the branches of evolution. Evolution does not act in a linear motion, but has many branches from its varied roots, and the phases of each branch itself either dies or evolves to ever higher levels of being as represented by the dove. In this, I believe that the more ardently we pursue a higher state of evolving, the sooner we will find universal peace through love and understanding."
To make the moment even sweeter for me, Lynden thoughtfully scribbled,
"Dear Elizabeth,
Live wide-eyed in the Mystery of Life and Dare to Love Wastefully.”
Wow.
I've officially been inspired. Time for me to pick up the paint brush and play...
It's been a really long time since I've seen art that contained so many of my own personal symbolism's and made me feel connected this way.
I LOVE that many of his Goddess girls hold balloons...and that all of the paintings reflect deeper meanings which are often only known after reading his "diaries" that accompany each particular piece. This one is definitely one of may favs and worth the jump over to his website to see up close and read his musings behind its creation...
Lynden's description of Sweet Dreams...
"This painting is about the strength that arises from facing fear “head on.”
The wedding gown brings relationships into focus and its blossoming spread signifies the opening up to life that occurs when we water and give light to those relationships.
As her hair tumbles down the front it transforms into a waterfall that feeds the waters of our origins. In this we see the various forms of life all of which play critical roles in maintaining the ecological balance.
Keeping life simple gives us the flexibility to travel light at a moment’s notice, to adjust as a situation dictates change as signified by the ready suitcase.
The butterfly, the symbol of metamorphosis, is always moving toward the light, signifying the natural progression of spiritual evolution which comes only after we free ourselves from the bindings of co-dependence and the material world."
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With meanings like that, it's no wonder why his work speaks to my heart.
To find out more or to purchase a piece, you can visit:
Muah.
xoxo,
Ps...It's pretty amazing to me that not only does Lynden paint, but he also writes/produces ALL of the music that is featured on his website. Wowza. Fingers are crossed to visit his gallery showings this summer in Santa Fe...
