Temptation
of The Innocent
Oil on Canvas 2005
48" x 60"
"This
new work is part of the 'Masterpiece' series that
I’m producing. “Battle for Our Souls” in the
painting section of this website is another piece
from the same series. I am attempting to paint one
large oil painting a year that expresses my passion
and views of topics dealing with social commentary
and issues on a spiritual level.
“Temptation
of the Innocent” deals with how we are born into
a corrupt world of desire, selfish ambition and suffering.
The hands represent the gift of life. The red-clothed
woman symbolizes the pain that women endure to bring
life into the world. She is protecting her child as
he/she decides what route to take in life.
The
baby is being tempted with a flower-painted skull by a demon
who hides a knife behind him as he lures this innocent.
The deceptive skull represents the materialistic, candy-coated,
path-of-least-resistance life that so many crave. There
are consequences to be paid for such a life and it is usually
the compromising or destruction of one’s soul. There is
hope in the form of an angel who tries to block the temptation
by offering the choice of the cross. The cross has been
identified with salvation and redemption for 2,000 years.
The bald heads on the figures symbolizes the nakedness of
the truth, rather good, bad, or innocent."
