Healing Illustrations Series is a visual arts project for social benefit.
The subject is the psychological and spiritual improvement of humanity through art and visual communication. The concept is to have a fresh approach to the ordinary art that decorates hospitals. The images depict imaginary scenes, and "daring" ideas with unusual color combinations,
but refer to eternal concepts, peace and the human race as one entity.
Eίναι μια νέα και φρέσκια προσέγγιση από την συνηθισμένη τέχνη που διακoσμεί τα νοσοκομεία επειδή οι εικόνες δείχνουν φανταστικά τοπία και "τολμήρες" ιδεές με ασυνήθιστους χρώματικους συνδιασμούς, αλλά που αναφέρονται σε θέματα αιώνια.
“Cells,” web anime, 2018
Cell Transformation
1 of 8 posters from "Healing Illustrations", 29 x 42 cm, tools: Adobe Photoshop & Illustrator, 2018
This poster may be purchased; proceeds go towards my public art project, Healing Illustrations
Donation: $30
"Cell Transformation," Draft 2, 42 x 29 cm, pencil on drafting paper, 2016
This final image is a composite of two separate subjects. The first being pink free dots resembling petals or drops in motion, inspired by Japanese Kimono patterns but also a reference to the way cancer cells look when magnified.
The Flower of Life
1 of 8 posters from "Healing Illustrations", 42 x 29 cm, tools: Adobe Photoshop & Illustrator, 2019
This poster may be purchased; proceeds go towards my public art project, Healing Illustrations
Donation: $20
"The Flower of Life," Draft 2, 42 x 29 cm, pencil on drafting paper, 2015
The Flower of Life is a symbol traditionally depicted in Arabic embroidery, but also in Eastern religions, such as Buddhism. The center of the flower shows an angel praying, from Byzantine depictions of the saints, and the four corners show kneeling angels in prayer inspired by Chinese painting. Surrounding the flower is a chain of women from different cultures holding hands.
border from "The Flower of Life," Draft 2, 42 x 29 cm, Adobe Illustrator, 2019
Color Sample, details from "The Flower of Life," Draft 2, 42 x 29 cm, Adobe Photoshop & Illustrator, 2018
"Psalms," Draft 2, 42 x 29 cm, pencil on drafting paper, 2015
The young woman who is fully dressed, but barefoot stands with a large heart on the sea shore, and next to her is a little angel gazing up to her, showing their connection. Above them fly angels and they are surrounded by symbols and scripture meant to give strength, hope and life:
hope (rainbow, water, mosque, angels), strength and courage (horses, community); protection and faith (mosque, peacock, fish); and verses from the Book of Psalms, verses 103; 1-5
"Flying Angels in the Desert," Draft 2, 43 x 29.5 cm, pencil on recycled paper, 2016
These are angels flying above the desert, and in the desert there is an oasis, a rainbow
and homes symbolizing the community and life. Other symbols such as a vine and doves also
give the message of life and hope. The boarder pattern is a composite of traditional Middle Eastern architectural patterns.
Hymn
1 of 8 posters from "Healing Illustrations", 42 x 29 cm, tools: Adobe Photoshop & Illustrator, 2021
This poster may be purchased; proceeds go towards my public art project, Healing Illustrations
Donation: $20
via paypal: paypal.me/BlueFigArt Blue Fig Art email: christine@bluefigart.gr
1 of 8 posters from "Healing Illustrations", 42 x 29 cm, tools: Adobe Photoshop & Illustrator, 2021
This poster may be purchased; proceeds go towards my public art project, Healing Illustrations
Donation: $20
via paypal: paypal.me/BlueFigArt Blue Fig Art email: christine@bluefigart.gr
"Hymn," draft 2, 43 x 29.5 cm, pencil on recycled paper, 2016
Here is a mother or sister playing the Middle Eastern guitar, called Oud, which is similar to the Greek Bouzouki and sheep and goats, or a flock in the desert look on under the starry night sky. The animals are taken from life-drawings in our village in Northern Greece.
“Praise Be To God,” Draft 2, 43 x 29.5 cm, pencil on recycled paper, 2016
An example of Arabic calligraphy that transcends time and culture because of its exceptional design, the Basmala re-enforces the beauty of Islamic art. The phrase reads, “Praise be to God,” in the pattern of a chessboard. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basmala
1 of 8 posters from "Healing Illustrations", 42 x 29 cm, tools: Adobe Photoshop, 2018
This poster may be purchased; proceeds go towards my public art project, Healing Illustrations
Donation: $20
"Community," Draft 2, 42 x 29 cm, pencil on drafting paper, 2015
Each picture in this work shows a typical Middle Eastern scene with women in Abayas sitting by the sea-shore or in an oasis with family. The image with the ladies on the dunes could almost be seen metaphor for women holding out her hand to a fellow patient after breast cancer.
Shahada
1 of 8 posters from "Healing Illustrations", 42 x 29 cm, tools: Adobe Photoshop, 2018
This poster may be purchased; proceeds go towards my public art project, Healing Illustrations
Donation: $20
"Shahada," Draft 2, 42 x 29 cm, pencil on drafting paper, 2016
The Shahada in Arabic Kufic-style calligraphy. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shahada
The following footage serves as a visual reference for Healing Illustrations Series. Healing Illustrations Series is a public art project that has been fiscally sponsored by Fresh Arts http://www.fresharts.org
The illustrated prints will be depicting women, children and families mainly in the Middle East, but also the Mediterranean. This series consisting of eight pictures, approximately one meter high each, will be exhibited in a public setting, with the final setting being in a hospital. Through each piece my goal is to convey elements from these societies unique and elaborate cultural traditions, as well as universal imagery, texts and symbolism associated with spirituality.
I would also like to communicate compassion and understanding towards women in the Middle East and the Mediterranean and their families who have faced an illness such as breast cancer. Aside from issues of social inequality, these regions have been going through much political and social unrest, and believe that I have the ability to help shed light on the rich cultural history of these places through my work in a setting removed from its original context while providing more insight into Islam, the Arab World, Orthodoxy, the Mediterranean and how they are culturally related.¹
Οι εικονογραφημένες εκτυπώσεις θα απεικονίζουν γυναίκες, παιδιά και οικογένειες κυρίως στη Μέση Ανατολή, αλλά και στη Μεσόγειο. Αυτή η σειρά αποτελούμενη από οκτώ εικόνες, ύψους περίπου ενός μέτρου η καθεμιά, θα εκτίθεται σε δημόσιο χώρο, με τελικό σκηνικό σε νοσοκομείο. Μέσα από κάθε κομμάτι ο στόχος μου είναι να μεταφέρω στοιχεία από αυτές τις κοινωνίες
μοναδικές και περίτεχνες πολιτιστικές παραδόσεις, καθώς και εικόνες, κείμενα και συμβολισμούς που σχετίζονται με την
πνευματικότητα.
Θα ήθελα επίσης να επικοινωνήσω τη συμπόνια και την κατανόηση προς των γυναικών της Μέση Ανατολής και τη Μεσογείου και των οικογενειών τους που αντιμετώπισαν μια ασθένεια όπως τον καρκίνο. Εκτός από τα ζητήματα κοινωνικής ανισότητας, αυτές οι περιοχές έχουν περάσει από πολιτικές και κοινωνικές αναταραχές και πιστεύω ότι μπορώ να βοηθήσω να φωτίσω την πλούσια
πολιτιστική ιστορία αυτών των τόπων μέσα από το έργο μου σε ένα περιβάλλον που απομακρύνθηκε από το αρχικό της πλαίσιο
ενώ παρέχοντας περισσότερες γνώσεις για το Ισλάμ, τον Αραβικό Κόσμο, την Ορθοδοξία, τη Μεσόγειο και το πώς
σχετίζονται πολιτιστικά.
Pledges
Donation: $70
via paypal: Blue Fig Art, christine@bluefigart.gr
The design comes from a belt buckle with fan stitching from Mount Athos in Greece. (19th C.) Proceeds from this series go to my public art project Healing Illustrations
To Order: Mount Athos Sacred Clasp Duffle
Donation: $100
via paypal: Blue Fig Art, christine@bluefigart.gr
Get more angels watching your back, and everything else this season! Angel patterns by Christine Olga Smith. Proceeds from this series go to my public art project Healing Illustrations.
To order: Angels Backpack
