Tribute To Parents by Mark Rusic

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ARTIST NOTES: A Tribute to parents:

This is a highly textured impasto oil painting adapted from a photo I took of my mother working in her garden.

Note: See some pictures showing my creative process. I required several sketch-attempts prior to creating this final artwork on my website: https://www.iconiccolours.com/about.

I am deeply inspired and most appreciative of my parents. When young, I often saw them working quietly and tirelessly behind the scenes, to provide the best for both me and my brother.

Maybe that was not your experience. Maybe things went wrong. However, this painting shows how honouring our creator, and our creators divine blue-print of family and parenthood, unconditionally, will produce beautiful fruit in your life.

Words cannot express the gratitude I feel today. This paintings meaning and symbolism helps put some of these feelings into words.

It is my tribute to them and I trust it also gives you an opportunity to show or recall a tribute that you made to your parents too, or to reflect on your relationship with them today.

There are three aspects of this tribute.

Firstly, I painted my mother here almost hidden by the colourful hues in the background. And we only see her back.

This speaks of a life that is not seeking accolades, or any fanfare, but good parents happily and humbly serve the family they cherish. I totally celebrate that.

And again, whether our parents did that or not, I still celebrate parenthood.

Thats because honouring them means we are honouring our creator himself, who instituted parenthood for our sake.

Indeed, strong families are the building blocks for strong communities.

Secondly, I painted her with a round cloud directly over her head. This is my way of saying she did a lot of good and is a saint.

As subtle as this cloud is, obscured by the trees, it is on her as she works, it is my equivalent of a halo for a saint.

I didn’t paint a circular, golden, religious halo, as was customary for a saint, during the gothic era.

My view is that in the New Testament where all believers were called saints, not just select individuals. It was by virtue of them being justified by grace, and by their faith in Christ alone, by his work on the cross, not their own.

So, I used this glorious cloud cover to infuse the sacred and divine upon my mother to honour her sainthood and how it impacted my life. Again, it was not done through classical religious imagery.

I concur with Van Gogh who wrote to his brother Theo about the same thing, saying in September 3rd, 1888: And in a picture I want to say something comforting as music is comforting. I want to paint men and women with that something of the eternal which the halo used to symbolize, and which we seek to confer by the actual radiance and vibration of our colourings.

On another note, I think sainthood needs to be better understood.

Have my parents been perfect in every way since young. No, besides having great strengths, they have also had very real flaws, and at times we have had serious issues to work through.

However, I'm so glad we worked through things. Honouring led to sorting things out. Honour meant prioritising working through things; I made time to relate. It helped bring healing and eventually lifted our family to a higher place.

And it made my relationship even more valuable. We came though the other side together.

I had to realise that I myself am not perfect either. I have needed to learn empathy and tolerance.

My guiding light has been Exodus chapter 20 in the bible, which says, honour your father and mother. And it has a promise stated with it, we are to honour, that it may go well with us.

It's so true. I have learned to honour my parents, the good they do makes it easier, but honouring is best done, despite all the warts, and all.

And as the promise states learning to honour in your own immediate family puts you in good stead and favour with people and all authorities in life.

This is a vital truth today given the tumultuous times we are living in, too often characterised by children disobeying their parents, which is becoming increasingly common.

Lastly, the greatest aspect of my tribute: That huge chalice shaped pot, full of tulips, standing imposingly up front, has great significance.

It takes precedence, as the huge sign of tribute.

In ancient biblical culture, a chalice was raised in the air with wine upon a victory in war, in celebration before God(see Psalm chapter 116, verse 13).

God spoke to me through this verse distinctly and inspired my design of the painting.

This raised chalice-like pot is my tribute to God, the Lord and Creator, who has enabled my victory to navigate all my family challenges.

My faith helped me to honour my parents sincerely, and to become a parent myself.

I intentionally positioned the pot there to cause your eye to begin there naturally, and then to follow the path to my hard-working parent.

Putting God first helps me love on my parents all the more; I know they are a gift to me from Him.

Despite the pain of seeing a break down in relations, especially during one particular season in the past, I learned forgiveness, and saw God unite us all miraculously, as I continued to persevere in honour and take action.

I have come to know that God works all for good.

Are you speaking terms with your parents or is there a barrier?

Don’t react in spite and pull back. Wait on God, pray and trust God for a break through in the spirit of honour.

The iconic hues and varied colours all speak of His glory, especially seen through His creation.

But there is more, this chalice-like pot of beauty represents the victorious rivers of delights (seen in the bible, Psalm chapter 36) which believers receive and experience in life, by God’s spirit.

We raise that chalice high when we acknowledge Christs complete victory over sin and death through the cross and in our own lives, in practical ways.

Receiving Christ in our heart will help us overcome attitudes that restrict honouring our parents

The huge, seemingly insurmountable walls that separate us from each other can come down like they did in Jericho. (See the bible in Joshua Chapter 6)

So, there you have it. Regardless of whatever you have experienced, I hope this painting encourages to hold your parents dear.

That will lead to connection, and connection to empathy regardless of the past, and ultimately to appreciation of both parents.

Broken families can be restored and healed as we respond to Gods forgiveness; Ive seen this powerfully.

And then, after reconciliation, we can learn more from our parents, and go on to do things they could only dreamed of. They are blessed and so are we.

DIMENSIONS (Height - 91.50 cm X Width - 61.00 cm )
MEDIUM ON BASE Oil on Wood
GENRE Contemporary
REGISTERED NRN # 000-39680-0157-01
COPYRIGHT © Mark Rusic
PRIZES AND AWARDS No Awards
STATUS
View At Home

 
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Artist: Mark Rusic


ARTIST BIO

BIO including ARTIST STATEMENT

For a greater artist profile, more artwork, and examples of Marks creative process, see his website: https://www.iconiccolours.com/about

I seek to paint absolutely beautiful, radiant, eye-catching art works that personify my heart for people, and a portray a living voice of hope, encouragement, meaning, positivity, healing and purpose, that invite contemplation, and inspire people in their self-worth, purpose and dreams.

My paintings are often accompanied by poems I compose, that help explain the symbolism or purpose of the work.  And due to my own journey of finding emotional healing, has helped me bring healing to others though my art. I recall distinctly, how this become so real to me, when I sold my first collection of my work to someone in the blues, who remarked, "I need the colours and form of your paintings to help me to overcome my depression." Since that time I have often received many comments about my arts beauty and ability to cause a calming and soothing affect, producing happiness and joy, which people readily feel and testify to, from all over the world. Here are just a few sample testimonials, I have hundreds:

Love the colours. Make Melbourne look so happy. (Italy)

So natural and colourful. Makes me feel lightful. (Taiwan)

Love the colours and the unusualness, fantastic (Melbourne)

The Perfect present...Gorgeous, happy pictures. Congratulations (Perth)

Very beautiful (Jakarta)

Really unique colours and originality is exciting (South Africa)

Mark Rusic's colour palette will bring the Australian sun to any place on earth (New York)

I love the vibrant colours. They evoke a sort of calm happiness. (Canada)

Gorgeous work. The colour and vibrancy of your work is so beautful! (Australia, New Castle)

Thank you, pure joy (New York)

I think your paintings are astoundingly beautiful. (Germany)

Lovely work. These will brighten up my home (Vietnam)

So very refreshing (Vienna)

Your pictures are amazing (Brazil)

The artwork is stunning. I love the uniqueness...you have something special to share with us all. (Sydney)

I am a self taught artist with a background in engineering, and as a pastor-life coach for most of my life, together with over 20 years experience as an artist. There was a consistent trail of affirmation and accreditation due to my artistic talent from a young age, which was of not of the greatest surprise due to my fathers background as an architect and a prolific artist, who continues to this day at 90 years of age. Sales of my art to clients world wide, became common place, when my wife started a weekly stall in Queen Victoria market. I kept a list of literally hundreds of buyer testimonials from every continent(few samples shown above), all consistenly highlighting the love of the colours I used and unique form of the paintings, and often to people that have said, "I never bought art or never thought to buy it prior to meeting you Mark", which greatly catalysed my passion. I feel my best years are ahead as an artist and I am presently experiencing a resurgence of passion, and with more time to focus now.

Due to the popularity of my art and numerous sales, especially about a decade ago, it enabled me become the author of Iconic Melbourne and Iconic Animals of Australia, a collection of about 20 paintings of Melbourne, and associated poems and photography, which have been selling in leading book retailers, nationally, since 2014 and 2017 respectively.  That includes selling in places like Dymocks, Robinsons etc...and includes giftware related shops, like Spoilt giftwares, the Melbourne zoo retail shop, The Melbourne Museum retail show, Sydney Opera House Shop, at main airports, and  some art suppliers like Seniours Art supplies, cbd, and out of the way places like st.Pauls Cathedral shop @Flinders st, Melbourne.

One of my highlights was that 300 copies of Mark's Iconic Melbourne book were received as a gift book to G20 world delegates in 2014, via the Melbourne Museum.

See booktopia.com.au to view or purchase my books.

My art has sold in some of these commercial places mentioned also, including The Melbourne Museum for several years, where it was profiled all around the main retail store, with my books and paintings for sale, in both front and rear windows for around 6 months, previously.

I have also had a lot of gallery experience, though Ive prioritized selling my art direct online, for most of my career.

I have always been a trail blazer; thats what people say about me. I love a challenge. Im currently working on preparing two exhibits, one related to Indigenous Australians. I have a dream that one day these exhibits can be show cased in the main state galleries, including the NGV international, and maybe MoMA in New York etc..., and also appear for example, in the hallowed halls of parliament both local and abroad, not for prestige sake, but to make a statement and a difference in lives.

My favourite art medium is oils, working in impasto, with thickly textured brush strokes that highlight the works genesis, though I readily work in acylic and water colours too. Many people often comment that my work appears Van Gogh like.  Truth be told, Van Gogh has been by far the dominant influence in my art. This is so, even to the point that I also offer 'Paint like Van Gogh,' art workshops, which have proved to be very popular over the years.

I also do author talks, and have also done motivational speaking, related to my books and their art, in a large variety of organisations, for over a decade.

I enjoy doing commissioned works, receiving details about a client's iconic moments, places, desired features, or themes, whether for commercial or home applications. I'm higly adaptable, and enjoy painting all subject matters including still life, landscape, portaiture, nature and semi abstract-surrealism, to form tailored art works:

  • Art that can boldy and brightly light up and mood-shift, to transform living and office spaces,
  • Art to provide a featured focal and talking point at the dinner table,
  • Art to give a means to power up people's passion and visualise their vision,
  • Art that makes a way to mark people's memories and
  • Art with the use of symbolism and colour help produce telling paintings that teach defining, timely and trend-setting truths, concepts and even mysteries.

I also continue to draw inspiration from all artists, especially the masters, and even from Christ, the greatest artist himself; I love this quote by Van Gogh himself, who wrote of Christ to artist, Emil Bernard, his contemporary, in June 1888:

“Christ alone, of all the philosophers, magicians, etc., has affirmed eternal life as the most important certainty, the infinity of time, the futility of death, the necessity and purpose of serenity and devotion. He lived serenely, as an artist greater than all other artists, scorning marble and clay and paint, working in the living flesh. In other words, this peerless artist, scarcely conceivable with the blunt instrument of our modern, nervous and obtuse brains, made neither statues nor paintings nor books. He maintained in no uncertain terms that he made…living men, immortals.”


View works by Mark Rusic in Whitehorse Art Show