Tuesday, August 17, 2010

My Stuff - Dominique Eichi


                                                      8  x  10      Oil

Well this one is for Adebanji's Moleskins and his theme is Homelessness / Poverty.
I've been thinking about this book for months and I like painting faces so I've been taking pictures of different people I see around my city (San Diego) wanting to get one that represent what I hoped to portray.
But it seems that something else was in the works for me.
A few days ago this picture jumped at me walking downtown with Tiffany. I thought it was striking as it was making this homeless stuff so in your face with the lights and shadows.
So I've been thinking about it and it seem as we all consider Our stuff to be very important, yet we will not be able to take it with us when we die and most of our children do not like our stuff so they will sell it as soon as we're gone to get their stuff. So, I guess this reminder is for me, to take my stuff with a light heart and be ready to give it away to those that might need it more than me, after all it's only STUFF.
God doesn't bless us to increase our standard of living.
God blesses us to increase our standard of giving.
He gives us money to check our hearts. If you love money you will use people. If you love people you will use money.

8 comments:

  1. POWERFUL MESSAGE and great painting. The street life of loneliness is what I like about this piece. You have also depicted this with great feeling. Thanks Dominique!

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  2. Great image, Dominique. Love the dramatic shadows.

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  3. This is very dramatic. I really love the perspective, and the deep blues and mystery of the scene. I think part of the power of it, for me, is that I don't know whether that bundle is just things or if there's a person bundled up and sleeping among the pile, as is often the case on our city streets. There's a strong sense of isolation here. The "bundle" that doesn't really belong, yet is so familiar.

    Oh, and you're so right about Stuff. In the end, it means very little.

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  4. Beautifully written and beautifully painted, Dominique! You have such a lovely, fluid style with oils, I should know because I have Vern's book right now and your painting in it is wonderful.

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  5. Amen to what you said, Dominique!
    Love your painting!

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  6. Excellent message and a very appropriate artwork to accompany it. Nice work, Dominique.

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  7. Such a dramatic composition, and that lighting makes it so poignant! I agree with everyone about the points you made but I am so struck by the skillful hand of the artist here. But thank you for reminding me that I need to let go of things. "It is just STUFF!" So true.

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  8. Dominique your painting and dialogue are very thought provoking. I'm sure that is what Adebanji had in mind when choosing his theme. Fabulous job on this. And an apology to you too for being so late in commenting.

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