Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD (08/03/17)
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TITLE: More Than Mere Paint | Previous Challenge Entry
By Melanie Kerr
08/09/17 -
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a commission
a picture of St John Ogilvy
an empty church building
serves as his studio
light pouring through tall windows
dust motes in drifting beams
stained glass replaced by something less distracting
a fist full of
sketches – crowd scenes and a noose
a large canvas
too large
he downsizes to
something less big
something less intimidating
and smears on orange paint
a city in the background takes form
rays of light stream through clouds
he paints over the city
leaves only clouds
not dark or threatening
St John Ogilvy stands
noble and serene
noose around his neck
it’s finished
he declares to himself
and yet…
suddenly
brush in hand
he covers everything in black paint.
madness says the voice inside
there’s a deadline
the Pope’s visit to Glasgow and
the opening of the restored church
where the painting will rest.
he should apologise and
say the task was beyond him
he waits for the madness to pass and
paints what he sees inside himself
more than mere paint
more than chemicals mixed together
St John Ogilvy wears his own face
no city, no light beams just
gathering clouds and the pinprick of the sun
eyes heavy with suffering and sadness
hands resting in tranquillity and trust
he stands at the end of his journey
the painting twists the artist’s gut and
drags at his emotions
tears come
it is finished now
he declares to himself
as he tosses a sheet over the picture
and forces himself to
clean his brushes
and walk away
Author’s note: Saint John Ogilvie (1579 – 10 March 1615) was a Scottish Catholic Jesuit martyr. The portrait hangs in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel of St Andrew’s Cathedral in Glasgow. It was painted by Peter Howson in 2011.
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