“Peaks of Awareness” by George H. Lewis and Studio Visit
This painting, (acrylic and resin on board) is inspired by George H. Lewis’s recent trip to the Caribbean, where he was exploring the idea that water carries consciousness, and that each drop of water is connected to entire bodies of ocean, symbolizing the individual being connected to the collective consciousness. We are 70% water. The planet is 70% water. A symbiosis.
About George H. Lewis
Expressed through the mediums of acrylic and resin, Lewis’s “Oceana Series” delves into the concept of water as perceived through the lens of a portrait artist. Lewis’s approach was to place the same attention to detail and reverence to capturing his seascapes as he does to the human subjects in his portraits.
While Lewis’s technical and aesthetic treatment of his water canvases parallels that of his portraits, for the former, the artist admittedly enters a deeper symbolic and metaphysical creative space. Lewis views water as a manifestation of consciousness, both in its fluid, adaptable nature and in its capacity as a creative (and destructive) force. Water expresses itself in infinite ways – from a gentle mist to a mighty tsunami – yet, it is also supple and responsive. It takes on the shape of the vessel that contains it, just as our thoughts can be shaped by our emotional responses or our emotions can be fueled by our thoughts.
It is also illuminating to realize that the human body is comprised of approximately the same percentage of water that the Earth embraces with its land mass, around 70% in each case. And like our oceans, our lives are the history of a series of tides, rising and falling like the levels of the sea. As individuals, we are but drops of water that collectively create the vastness of the watery domains of the ocean. It is therefore vital for us to remind ourselves that we are not separate from the ocean, and therefore cannot take it for granted, we must honor it and respect it as would do to our own body. The individual is part of the collective, much like the drop is a part of the ocean. Humankind must unite, in mind, body and spirit and understand that all relationships are symbiotic, human and environmental. The artist seeks to lead this conversation through a visual narrative.
An Exhibition by George H. Lewis
The Consciousness of Water -Psychological Mirrors of the Unconscious
Within this collection of painting I delve into the concept of water as perceived through the lens of a portrait painting. I am placing the same reverence to the element of water as I would honor when painting the human soul. After all, the individual is but a reflection of the collective conscioness and vica versa. The individual droplets that abound in this collection represent the individual and the “body of water” as a whole represent the collective consciousness. Some say that water is indeed a manifestation of consciousness. It is certainly a vehicle of life. When we observe water, we see that it expresses itself in an infinite variety, ranging from a gentle mist to the mighty tsunami and yet it is supple and responsive. It takes on the shape of the vessel that contains it, just as our thoughts are shaped by our emotional nature. We can be imprisoned by our thoughts or our emotions can fuel our thoughts. Water is the only element that has three states: it can be frozen into ice, which signifies dogma, and it can be evaporated into vapor which is inspiration/spirit and in the space between, in its liquid form, it represents the flow of our emotional experience. I seek to paint this dance between the solid and the gas.
Life is an eternal force, and on the material plane of existence is expressed through the elements. The element of water relates to air, earth and fire that come together in a work of art just as the artist uses paint to express an idea on the blank canvas of the human consciousness. Our thoughts are like the brush. The emotions are the colors. We see thought become manifest. Emotion gives it meaning. The earth is but a member of the cosmic family of other celestial bodies. Each has an effect on the other just as our moon affects the tides of our oceans. It is so illuminating to realize that the human body is comprised of approximately the same percentage of water that the Earth embraces with its land mass. And like our oceans, our lives are the history of a series of tides, rising and falling like the levels of the sea. As individuals, we are drops of water that collectively creates the vastness of the watery domains of the ocean.
Water is the ultimate shape shifter that inspires the shaman. It always seeks its own level. It works in harmony with whatever force touches it. It shows us that without the tug of polarities, we have no free will. It is alignment with the nature of its environment that determines the form it takes. Current research by Dr. Emoto of Japan has shown that a drop of water will take on the molecular shape of the emotion directed towards it. We can control water or it will control us. But human control is fleeting and temporary.
We have the choice as to how we react to our emotions. Yet every form of water, from ice to steam remains true to its basic nature. The frozen water of the polar ice caps melt into the ocean and become liquid. Water still remains water. The form changes, the essence remains. Water is the element that produces the rainbow. It circulates life force and through the veins and capillaries of the earth’s rivers. It is the tsunami that sweeps away the shallow accomplishment of superficial ideas. Mankind knows more about the mysteries of space than the depths of the oceans. We still have much to learn about this essential element to Life.
The energy of universal consciousness is expressed in our material world through the elements. The material elements of water and its relationship to air, earth and fire come together in a work of art just as the artist uses paint to express the symbol of an idea on the blank canvas of the human consciousness. We see thought become manifest. The culture of Japan distills complex ideas with the power of simplicity; it is the complexity of diversity distilled into the power of a simple truth. Through the zen-like esthetics of Japanese culture we learn that less is infinitely more instructive in reaching the essence of a portrait. I am currently working through the concept of painting water as a portrait, with the same reverence I would honor in painting the human soul. Some say that water is indeed a manifestation of consciousness. It is certainly a vehicle of life. When we observe water, we see that it expresses itself in infinite variety, ranging from a gentle rain to the mighty tsunami. Yet it is supple and responsive. It takes on the shape of the vessel that contains it just as our thoughts are shaped by our emotional nature. Yet every form of water, from ice to steam remains true to its basic nature. Our planet is but a member of the cosmic family of other celestial bodies. Each has an affect on the other just as our moon affects the tides of our oceans. we have just experienced a full solar eclipse for the first time in many years. It is so illuminating to realize that the human body is comprised of approximately the same percentage of water that the Earth embraces with its land mass. And like our oceans, our lives are the history of a series of tides, rising and falling like the levels of the sea. As individuals, we are drops of water that collectively creates the vastness of the watery domains of the ocean.
Value: 10,000
Generously donated by George H. Lewis
Instagram: @georgehlewis
