The Novitiate
The Novitiate © Dan Griggs (2002)
Best Interpretation: “I see a triangle formed by the downward line of her hat brim, the upward line of her breasts, and the vertical left side. Three… the Trinity… the past, present, and future… father, mother, child… the third letter of the Hebrew alphabet, gimel, meaning reward and punishment, implying that she is free to choose between good and evil… in dreams, Three signifies energy, fulfillment, balance, harmony. (…)” -Stuart Vail
The Artist’s Secrets: “In making this painting, I wanted to try and intertwine the sacred and the profane, light and dark…in one image. I’m not sure how successful I was, but when I look at the model holding the candles, I see echoes of both worlds.”
“One item: in the image, although it’s hard to discern, the upper half of the models face is tightly wrapped in a see-through black veil.” -Dan Griggs
Issue Feb 2007
Contemporary
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This is her novitiate, her preparation for a most unique Sisterhood. The novice awaits, she is being tested. She is being observed, her patience scrutinized, her strength noted — her naked beauty a mere reflection of the greater within.
I see a triangle formed by the downward line of her hat brim, the upward line of her breasts, and the vertical left side. Three… the Trinity… the past, present, and future… father, mother, child… the third letter of the Hebrew alphabet, gimel, meaning reward and punishment, implying that she is free to choose between good and evil… in dreams, Three signifies energy, fulfillment, balance, harmony.
The invisible Sisters see perfection. The novice will not even feel the last of the wax as it drips through her hands. She is beyond such petty inconveniences as pain. Her mantle awaiteth….
Balance, “a beam that is supported freely in the center and has two pans of equal weight suspended from its ends.” She is perfectly centered and beautiful. The number two is consistent throughout the composition: two candles, two arms/hands/breasts, two earrings/nipple rings. As if ‘two’ is the number of people in the room to form unity, completeness. She sits holding light for her lover who is fumbling to find and put on a condom. Nervously, he and she. It is the first time they will be making love, together. She holds light as if to guide them on this journey, their special moment.
Her piercing intrigues me immensely, it is like clothing on her. The piercing represents possibly the way she dresses, someone hip or into spirituality/tribalism/symbolic body markings—it even leads me to believe she is opened-minded about life—to explore as a faithful and committed lover. She may be pierced elsewhere too. [Laugh]
The painter leaves her eyes covered in the dark to protect her identity, to keep her safe in this immaculate environment that she sits in, awaits, looks forward to… Her face expresses patience and curiosity.
In making this painting, I wanted to try and intertwine the sacred and the profane, light and dark…in one image. I’m not sure how successful I was, but when I look at the model holding the candles, I see echoes of both worlds.
One item: in the image, although it’s hard to discern, the upper half of the models face is tightly wrapped in a see-through black veil.
What rises is light. Two candles, two spiral staircases of fingers winding around wax. What descends is dark, the cones of body, the rings and the way they circle the text of skin, leave two angelic halos on the abdomen. A lap of scarlet cloth, a face swaddled in black sheerness, a vision darkened, a tone unsure of its hold on the shadow or the flame.
I love this picture (although photographic) - modern nipples in a classical settings. Piercing was not a fashion when the old masters painted. This image recalls the classical masterpieces and adds definite airs of modernity. Love the shadow work.