Title: The Blessings of Love
Medium: Oil paint,
Austrian crystals, and metal leaf (sterling silver and
aluminum) on three hinged birch wood artisan made
panels.
Size:
Dimensions: Center 36”x15 ¾, Side Panels
28”x8”. Apx. total open size is 36" x 36"
Year: 1998
This retablo, created in the ex-voto style of my New
Mexican ancestors is painted in gratitude for love’s
blessings in my marriage.
Center panel
Bathed in a sunset of pale yellow, orange and red; angels fly
overhead guiding and revealing life’s miracles. The tree
of life rests on a fertile mound of earth, which sits in a sea
of swirling water and caressing waves. Beneath the sea a woman
slumbers; resting on a bed of indigo earth and surrounded by
black floral designs. A man and woman rise from the water and
join hands above the tree. A blue bird symbolizing the Holy
Spirit, flies skyward toward a spiraling sun and on into
infinite possibility.
Side Panels
The side panels represent each person. The slender green
leafed tree symbolizes the individual life. An ancient Native
American petroglyph symbolizing a home’s refuge forms the
base of the panel. Ten marks, one for each decade of a happy
life, support the petroglyph. The Angel on the left panel
carries a torch for love and the Angel on the right flies
serenely.
Backside of the
altar
The ex-voto folds to reveal back panels painted with black
floral patterns and swirl designs. The stunning sterling
silver leaf background is achieved with a mixture of metal leaf
applications and oil paint.
To Commission a retablo or santos
for your relationship, contact me.
