Work 1 and Work 2. 2005.

In this diptych I want to show that ‘work’ is not just a physical or mental exertion, mostly something that has to be endured to earn money, but rather I believe, that ‘work’ has been designed by God for our benefit. Work gives structure and rhythm to our lives. It should engages our whole being, spirit, soul and body. Adam, having been created by God, was commanded by God to work in the Garden of Eden and to take care of it, from the Old Testament book of Genesis chapter 2. That was his job, that was part of the framework for his life, that was in part what engaged him. However I believe that running parallel to this is a deeper purpose of God that impacted Adam and impacts ourselves. Thus I believe through God authorizing and designing our work, not just our working for money but all types of work, our lives may be described as a journey towards eternity, through a landscape, with the totality of work, engaging and transforming our being and character, and also in part making us ready for eternity. The other part is of course being transformed by Jesus’ death and resurrection, by surrendering to Him and being filled with the Holy Spirit.  

​The Divine Proportion of a third to two-thirds division of a line together with the geometric system of half to half division of a line underpins the pictures and imparts structure and rhythm. The Divine Proportion and the geometric system are used in positioning and relating the yellow rectangular area to the outer black frame. This yellow rectangle is linked to the outer black frame by tapering curved black lines. This gives a feeling of depth leading towards the centre of the composition and also stands for a brow of a hill in a landscape, of blue sky and red earth. I have used primary colours to illustrate a person’s spirit as blue, body as red and soul as yellow. At the centre of the yellow rectangle is a white circle which I believe represents eternity, God and a person’s character, transformed by work, which itself is shown by the four black quarter circles. The yellow rectangle is placed at the centre of an invisible cross to show the invisible presence of God, the sides of this cross being formed by dividing up the outer black border by means of the Divine Proportion and the geometric system. 

​I believe that God uses work to shape and transform our being and character, but we choose as to how we respond to God and to that process. Work can be an uplifting process as in Work 2 but sometimes it can feel to be a burden or depressing as in Work 1. However whatever the work is and our responses to it, I believe that God uses every moment to shape us and ready us for His earthly and eternal plans for us.