Self-Implosion or Ignition

"Lift Off Into The Black" © 2014 J. Travis Duncan

When painting semi-abstract art, one tries to give enough visual information in order to make the subject recognizable, yet somewhat sensational enough to warrant the word "abstract" in the moniker "semi-abstract". It definitely is a balancing act that requires a deft touch and a deep mode of concentration. Semi-abstract can be a lot of fun, very frustrating, or an amalgam of both for the artist.

For "Lift Off Into The Black", it was my mood that helped me visualize what type of painting I wanted to create. It was Saturday, my family was with me, and they were having a good time playing in a pool while I was off to the side with a makeshift easel ready to "sling paint". I was happy and filled with an air of excitement. My iPod was playing Anberlin's "Godspeed", which is a really driving song about drugs being the downfall of many rock n' roll artists through the years. You know, the common tale of self-implosion. That's a road I never want to go down, but each of us are quite capable of self-imploding with the help of other means besides drugs. The opposite of self-implosion would be self-explosion. However, I would rather think of the explosion as an ignition. This is where the thought of what subject I would paint began.

The Space Shuttle program has been a really exciting time for not only the United States, but the rest of the world. Just take a look at all the accomplishments that have been made by the program. I can remember watching the different shuttles launching from Cape Canaveral and the thrill of seeing a man-made vessel heading into space. The preparations of each launch wasn't something that happened overnight, but took time. There was a constant reevaluation to make sure that things were moving in the correct direction in order to assure a successful mission. Does this not sound very similar to the Christian life?

As a Christian, we should constantly scrutinize our lives. Everything we do should be tested. Isn't it our mission to love the Lord with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and to love our neighbor as our self? If something is broken or missing, this is impossible. If my relationship with Jesus is broken or missing, the mission is in vain. Just as the space shuttle needs ignition to break from it's platform, we also need ignition to move and act Christ-minded. Where do we Christians get this horizontal lift? Philippians 2:13 states, "for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." The Creator of the universe works in us. What more could one ask for?

So, though the painting "Lift Off Into The Black" is a semi-abstract of a Space Shuttle night launch, it is a visual reminder to me that Christ is continually preparing His people to be Heaven bound. All systems are being checked and those things that are missing or broken are being added or fixed. One day, the countdown will happen. We will have lift off. What a ride that will be!

The Art of J. Travis Duncan