"Divine Union"- A New Painting - Dominique Hurley

I’m thrilled to present to you the finished piece:

Divine Union – 30″ x 40″ – acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas (no framing required)

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This is the fourth blog post about the creation and symbolism of this painting. To read my previous Sneak Peek posts, click on the titles below:

Here’s a bit more on the final steps of the process.

Below the Roots:

I spent 5 hours adding patterns below the roots, darkening that section to bring the eye back to the central figures. I’ve decided that doing this with my tiny paintbrush is much better than the new Liquitex professional paint markers I ordered. Some of the tips work better than others and they tend to fray quickly on canvas. Also, I just don’t find they flow very well, as I had to keep pumping some of them without satisfactory results. I’ll keep testing them as I’ve only used a few colours so far. As I’m not going for the absolute precision work of fine micron markers on paper, my paintbrush was just fine. Plus I really like the consistency, saturation and overall quality of Golden Acrylics.

The Portal:

I have my housemate Orinda to thank for this interpretation. I had decided to keep the space above the roots free of patterns. At first, I envisaged it as freshly fallen snow – peaceful and quiet. She saw it as a portal and the instant she said it, I felt it.

Finishing touches:

I mixed 2 of the blues used on the canvas to paint the sides before using my beloved 3-D paint to sign my name. I used a light blue that will catch the light, but be subtle.

How Long Did It Take?:

A few have already asked. I was going to write that this painting had taken about 100 hours to create. I then decided to be more accurate and was shocked to discover that from start to finish, I had worked on the physical creation of it for only 8 days. Sure, I worked for more than 12 hours a day on some days, but in my mind, I had been at it for much longer than a week. In total, then, I estimate closer to 60 hours. Truth be told, however, like any painting, it’s taken a lifetime to create as it encompasses the totality of my talents, education, practice, visions, etc. You simply can’t judge the worth of art solely based on hours of work. Still, what a week!

Contemplation:

I feel so very honoured that this painting chose me as its channel for creation. I have been blessed by the experience in many known and unknown ways. Just last night, I was contemplating it while lying in bed in the semi-darkness. As the mid tones disappeared, what was left was the shape of a delicate orchid – inviting me in to discover its mysteries. I then understood why the tree guided me to shape it that way.