I can’t remember when I first started drawing the spiral shape in my art.
my spiral necklace
Or when I claimed it as “my” symbol. I love that little swirly shape. I wear it around my neck. I bought my spiral necklace in Greece in 1995 (you’ll hear more about that trip in my Part 4, One Artist’s Journey post on Feb. 11th). I love wearing it. It’s my favorite necklace.
I put the spiral in my paintings a lot!
The swirl, the curly one, the spiral… what does it mean?
For me, it represents energy and growth. The spiral swirls outwards. Expansion. I like making my painting series titled “holding the energy”. These are little yoga figures holding a spiral. To me it means being able to stay calm, harness the energy, stillness. I like the idea of that. Being still. Holding the energy. Being aware. Expansion of Self.
holding the energy
I think the spiral has gotten a lot of bad rap. You hear things like, the “downward spiral”, “spiraling out of control”, the “death spiral”, the “spiral of barbarity”.
But I take a more positive outlook about it. I was going to say “positive spin’ but that might be a little cliche.
I like this quote:
“Because time itself is like a spiral, something special happens on your birthday each year: The same energy that God invested in you at birth is present once again.”
- Menachem Mendel Schneerson
Time is like a spiral. I like that. Energy is like a spiral. I like that too.
I found an article online about a spiral energy theory that says, “gravitational forces of all the stuff of the universe and their constraining gravitational force upon themselves cause light and particles to form spirals as they move through the universe.”
I’m not a scientist but I like the sound of that. That there are gravitational forces causing spirals of light to move through the Universe. I know I have simplified it. I’m an artist, I like metaphor.
I just like the idea of spiral light energy radiating and connecting us all to each other. That’s why I have spirals and connected dots in my paintings.
What are your favorite symbols and shapes?
You can read more about spiral symbolism and other things on symbolism at what’s-your-sign.com
those spiral “tiles” would make just that — gorgeous tiles!
Hmmmm. Spiral – as if you are tethered, or anchored, at a constant point, but you keep growing, getting stronger, increasing in knowledge, in discipline – your influence and capability expanding – all while you are in orbit around that one, germinal point. The point, for me, would be God. And love. And truth. Which, I guess, are all the same true point.
I find myself doing stars. All kinds of stars. But after this, I think I love spirals just as much. I also love simple points – points around these shapes, like little bits of you breaking off and leavening loaves . . .