Sunday, April 04, 2010

EASTER

Those of you who are regulars here and who followed the God Interviews will know that I am a believer but also that where religion is concerned, I do it my way. I admit this sounds arrogant but I'm willing to be humbled anytime. The Catholic schools I attended gave me familiarity with Catholic tradition but never marked me as deeply as the sound of my father's voice praying quietly and passionately, alone behind his bedroom door. Possibly this was what shaped my conviction that a direct, open-hearted, self-stripping conversation with God is the only religion I can practice. 

Wherever it takes place - alone in a room or in a field, in a cathedral, a mosque, a synagogue, or on the street - that one-to-one dialogue between the human and the Divine is the essence of faith as I understand it. All the arguments pro and con religion are swept aside when that most intimate of connections takes place and - sorry for the cliché - you just know it's real. My culture has given Christian form to my belief and it's the basic teachings of Jesus which I find most inspiring, preferably without the Church's interpretations and adornments.

Many years ago, I did thirteen pared-down ink drawings on the life of Jesus. Here are five of them. Sad to say, I don't think I could do better now. 


7 comments:

marja-leena said...

Your drawings are marvelous, lovely, loose, expressionistic yet pared down as you say, and really seem to suit your own personal practice of your faith, Natalie! Thank you for sharing and Happy Easter to you.

Dave said...

I love these drawings!

Natalie said...

Marja-Leena, I'm glad to know you appreciate these. I was 22 when I drew them - I wish I could get back to that kind of freedom! Happy post-Easter to you too.

Dave,thanks. Usually, looking back at one's early work is cringe-time. But
it's the opposite with me: compared to those drawings, it's my more recent work that makes me cringe!

Pica said...

Natalie, I love these too. They are full of energy and passion.

How to get back to that freedom in art? I continue to hope it's possible, but we do get in our own way lot...

Natalie d'Arbeloff said...

Pica, too true! Getting in one's own way is the bane of adulthood. Picasso tried to break free of those bonds when he was very old but I don't think he really succeeded. I continue to hope it's possible too.

SKIZO said...

Fabulous
Good
Creations

Natalie said...

Obrigada, SKIZO, e bemvindo a minha casa internetica/intergalctica. Gosto do seu auto-ritrato.