This piece was inspired after a conversation I had with someone regarding intelligent design vs. evolution and conflicting evidence for and against both theories. While not directly depicting anything obvious relative to that topic, in this painting the symbol of the cross represents the Holy Bible and the stories held within. There are those who live by the Bible and view it as a source of factual information written through the eyes of God. There are those who believe the bible to be a no more than a collection of stories written and embellished by men. There are people who remain neutral, having no opinion at all either because they were raised without it or because of personal choice. Perhaps this information suggests that I don't believe in the Bible, but it's more that I view it as a mystery, unsolved. As someone who was born into Catholicism, but taken out of the Catholic church because of my father's agnosticism and harsh treatment endured by my mother while attending Catholic schools, I was left to figure out the mysteries of spirituality on my own. (still in progress...)

This piece was created using a thick layer of gesso, which I textured using rubber stamps and other tools. Once this was dry I used layers and layers of thin transparent and opaque acrylic paint - I use Golden because of the wonderful luminosity. I used photo images, a vintage greeting card (in the cetner of the cross), silver leaf, tissue paper, and then rubber-stamped a border in gold.

Sorry. This piece belongs to Carol Hardy.