Day 4297: Oil Paintings and Ojiso.

     

"Beaten": acrylic collage.

 

 

  

Want music?

 

    

Click : Dionne Warwick, Walk On By.

 

  

 

 

2GN2S

Sun-Dappled in Glowing Oil Paintings

“Morning Shadows.”

From the romantic streets of Paris to sun-dappled walkways of Mediterranean villages, Sergiu Ciochină’s paintings transport us to remarkable places. The artist, who is based in Moldova, recently embarked on a journey through northern France, Paris, Portugal, Madeira, and Morocco.

“Blue Shadows #30”

“Paris is undeniably a powerful source of inspiration but also challenging to capture,” Ciochină tells Colossal. “It is so diverse, rich, and at the same time subtle and difficult to reinterpret while capturing the feelings and atmosphere of the place.” He focuses on architecture, flora, and daylight but omits a human presence, evoking the inimitable sensation of discovery one feels when traveling to new destinations.

“Blue Shadows #75”

Ciochină is fascinated by the interplay of light and texture, drawing on the legacy of the Impressionists in the way he captures the intricacies of landscapes in oil. He captures the sun dashing off the sea, glows in narrow streets, or casts dramatic shadows of trees onto buildings and paths. Employing an impasto technique featuring energetic, visible brushstrokes, he highlights the unique textures and patterns of each place, bordering on low relief.

“Home Is Where Your Heart Is #1”

While his paintings resist a narrative or chronological approach, Ciochină views each work as a continuous journey from one to the next, mirroring travel itself. “The places, people, colors, rays of sunshine, and the shadows they cast—these are what inspire me during my travels,” he says.

“Nights in Paris #12”

Explore the artist’s Instagram, and find available works and prints on his website.

Ojizo

Jizõ, or more respectfully referred to as Ojizo-sama, one of the most loved of all Japanese divinities. His statues are most often in common sight. He is usually depicted as a monk, wearing robes with a shaven head. He often holds a staff called shakujo. This is used to both scare away living creatures so he doesn’t hurt them accidentally, and to awaken us from our dream-like world of illusion. On many images and statues, he holds a wish-granting jewel that he shares with Kanzeon Bosatsu and Vishnu in the Hindu tradition.

You’ll find Jizo peeking out among the grasses along the road, standing at intersections, overseeing borders, or sitting in a wooden shelter built especially for him. Jizo is at temples too, where sometimes he holds a baby in his arms. He is found at boundaries between places both physical and spiritual, between here and there, life and death. He is the protector of travelers, children and all beings trapped in hell.

The story goes, that the souls of children who die before their parents, are not capable of crossing the fabled Sanzu River (similar to the Styx river in Greek mythology) in the afterlife. This is because they have not had the time to  enough good deeds (karma).  It is believed that Jizo saves these souls from the punishment of having to pile stones eternally on the bank of the river. O-Jizo-sama, is thus widely recognized as the saint patron of dead children, especially still-born and aborted children.  Jizo takes care of the souls of unborn children and those who die at a young age. Children “in limbo” in Japan are said to go to a place called sai no kawara, where they must create piles of stones into small towers. But every night the stone towers are destroyed by demons, so the next day the children must make new piles of stones. The making of these towers is to help their parents accrue merit for their own afterlife. This is why you sometimes see stray stones that have been made into little towers alongside Jizo statues. People make them for the souls of these children, to help them achieve their goals. People also leave toys, candy or fruit as offerings at the base of Jizo statues. Women also pray to Jizo for fertility, easy childbirth. Some temples sell amulets for this purpose. Video, here

 

 

 

 

  

 

A 4  minute video, into a black hole, here

 

 

 

  

 

Just because ...

  

 

Black-throated Bushtit

  

 

Saturday's Smiles ...