Village Mother
Village Mother, gouache & ink on brown rice paper, © D. Yael Bernhard
It’s amazing how quickly time passes – a quarter of a century since I did this small painting on clay-colored rice paper. It was a sense of place that compelled me to create this image – a feeling of being rooted in the earth, and part of something larger than myself – a community of people, animals, and forests.
My idea emerged somewhat differently – as a little idealized village, more like an enclosed garden, or those ancient walled cities of Europe with their tightly-clustered houses. Life would be simple there, I imagined, and everyone would be familiar, connected, and interdependent. Presiding over this enclave and holding it in her embrace is the earth herself as a maternal presence.
I often draw what I hope will come true, for imagination can be the first step toward manifestation. Rarely do I draw my sufferings and regrets, though there are exceptions. Some three years after painting Village Mother, I moved to the mountain hollow where I’ve lived for the past 22 years. I became part of a community. Then pieces of it broke away. My children grew up and left home. Some people moved away, or left for the winter. New people arrived, and new friendships formed. Season by season, my rural village-like existence keeps changing. But always, my roots in this place keep growing and become finer and finer, knitting me to this patch of earth and the earth as a whole.
Rice paper has a wonderful, organic look and feel that suited my subject – but it is not meant to be painted on. When you touch printmaking paper such as this with a wet brush, the paint soaks in immediately, its edges spreading outward. This can be done deliberately, or it can be controlled with a very dry brush. Trial and error achieved the effects I wanted. The texture and color of this surface was so appealing to me, it was worth the effort – and I was stubborn.
It was fun painting all those roots!
Village Mother hangs in a local resort near my home, together with about two dozen of my paintings. It’s for sale, of course.
A good week to all!
D. Yael Bernhard
https://dyaelbernhard.com
Have you seen my other Substack, The Art of Health? In addition to being a visual artist, I’m also a certified integrative health & nutrition coach with a lifelong passion for natural food cooking and herbal medicine. Now in its second year, this illustrated newsletter explores cutting-edge concepts of nutrition. I strive to make relevant information clear and accessible, and to anchor essential health concepts in unique images. Check it out, and if you like it, please subscribe and help spread the word. Your support keeps my work going!