Keren Dibbens-Wyatt's Blog, page 15
June 6, 2017
135. Haloes (Light 8)
Light around a shape, whether (and weather) it is a cloud or a head, is described as a halo. We might think of it as an aura, or a kind of glow, that we often ascribe to coming from within, a measure of saintliness. When used in art to show holiness, it is often depicted around the whole person of Jesus as an “aureole” or “glory,” whilst lesser saints only have holy heads.
I would not like to know how much light I give off, I think that I would only start to measure it, as human beings tend to do, wondering if I have more Watts than the rest of the pew… as usual I would be thinking of things back to front, for however much our light shines, it is all the grace of God, given, not earned.
text and photo © Keren Dibbens-Wyatt 2017
June 4, 2017
A Poem for Pentecost
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June 2, 2017
134. Silhouette (Light 7)
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Silhouettes are a way of using the contrast between light and its absence to make us focus more on the dark, and use the light as a background. This is odd, when you think about it, it rather goes against the grain of our conditioned thinking, the same as when artists use negative space. I personally love the work of Lotte Reiniger and Jan Pienkowski, who are masters of the silhouette, used for storytelling, and am hoping to use the same concept in some of my art and illustration.
text and photo © Keren Dibbens-Wyatt 2017
May 31, 2017
133. Joy (light 6)
I find light filtering through into my life a joyful thing. When depression strikes, many people find the need to shut out the light. We draw the curtains and find somehow the false crepuscular half-light suits our mood better. Bright light can be simply too much, harsh or blinding, and this goes for those of us who suffer with processing disorders too. Lots of times during my illness I have needed to protect my eyes against the sunlight and artificial light in shops when my brain simply could not take it on board. Soft light, dappling through a curtain, or trees, or both, as here, has a gentle sweetness that lifts my spirits.
text and photo © Keren Dibbens-Wyatt 2017
May 29, 2017
132. Finding our Way (light 5)
Light is how we find our way around. If you look closely at the peony bud in this photo you can just see a bumble bee taking flight. He or she was careering madly from one bud to another, clearly drawn to the sugary nectar, but frustrated because the buds weren’t yet open for business.
I am quite glad, if I’m honest, that light is the preferred navigation system of our species, but how different life would be if we followed our noses! Instead of the wide and narrow ways, Jesus might have talked of the sweet way lined with roses and the stinky alley, and asked us which one we might be prepared to follow him down.
text and photo © Keren Dibbens-Wyatt 2017
May 27, 2017
131. Above (Light 4)
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Light can come from all angles, but inevitably more often from above. It is so humbling to think how far it has travelled as sunlight to reach my small patio and illuminate the weeds there. How can it have gone to so much effort for me to then proclaim them ugly? Anything with the greening life force in it is beautiful. Lit up, even more so.
text and photo © Keren Dibbens-Wyatt 2017
May 25, 2017
130. Contrast (Light 3)
Light and shadow together create beautiful patterns. This is true of all things in life, I think. Contrast, held in a moment, is often painful, but nevertheless, lovely.
text and photo © Keren Dibbens-Wyatt 2017
May 23, 2017
129. Translucence (Light 2)
When something is very thin, the light shines through it, creating a delicate beauty, and adding another layer to light, shadow, colour and form. It can seem almost other worldly, and it is perhaps no wonder that we often associate heaven with translucence, something that traditionally feels unknowable and intangible. Heaven can be much closer and much more real than we imagine.
text and photo © Keren Dibbens-Wyatt 2017
May 20, 2017
128. “Light”ening the Load (Light 1)
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Because this next section is about light, it is much more about the photographs than my words, so I’ll keep them to a minimum. Also, from today I’m going to be posting three days a week instead of six, it takes the pressure off me a bit and let’s me get on with writing my books 
May 18, 2017
127. Troll (Humour conclusions)
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This is a pastel picture I did outside last summer, incorporating the weeds growing through the cracks in our patio. When we are using our contemplative sight or creative imagination with the goal of creating laughter, we are doing a good thing. I maintain that it is my sense of humour that has been one of the most vital spiritual weapons in my faith life. It helps me especially with my chronic illness and disability, and friends I’ve spoken to who’ve been or are going through tough things, say the same, that it is often humour that has got them through it. It is also one of the tools in our contemplative toolbox. We can apply it to almost anything we see, if we are using the right eyes. And it is also a help in keeping ego under control, bursting the bubbles of pride. It does us good to be self-deprecating with our sense of humour once in a while and remember that we too, can be laughable things.
Next up, we shall be looking at light.
text and photo © Keren Dibbens-Wyatt 2017
