You can interpret my painting in a number of ways.

You can take different paths in life.  In my painting there are three clear paths but as you look at the painting closer you will see more.  It’s a journey by water, stones, butterflies, ladders and stairs.

Water – You can follow the path of water.  Water represents change, cleansing, fertility, and circumstance.  Depending on the quality of the water (whether clean or dirty) can determine if you will be handling easy or difficult situations.

Stones – Stones often represent ancient wisdom, family members and ancestors.  Will you be using the wisdom of others?

The Red Women – The red represents love, passion, motivation, danger, determination and strength.  The woman often represents unattainable love, the object of love, fertility, sexuality, motherhood, growth, nature’s renewal and motivation to take action.

Butterflies – Butterflies represent change.  Like the butterflies, we are always changing.  We can reinvent ourselves.  We give rise to new ideas and creations but we may have to let go of old ones in the process.  The letting go can be hard.  We grieve the loss of the old.  All new ideas and creations to take shape have to have the right conditions before they will take off and fly.  They will flourish when conditions are right.  Patience maybe needed as we go through life.

Ladders – the ladder often symbolizes ascension and a connection of heaven to earth.  It can also represent our ability to have higher levels of thought.  It can also mean lessons learned in life.  In my painting, the ladder represents an encouragement to think.  Use your higher skills of thought to reach that which you want to achieve.

Stairs – Are similar to ladders and can symbolize learning or thought.  Also, stairs represent a journey, however, many times when you are at the bottom of the stairs you can’t see the top or where you are headed.  Also, whether the stairs are going up or going down determines whether the journey will be positive or negative.  The red woman obstructs the path of the stairs.  This can means that unattainable love or passion for something may be getting in your way.

Enjoy!

Virginia Tolkin

(I sign my paintings Ginny Tolkin)

 Clothing made from this Painting: