The Kissing Angels

Kissing Angels - Acrylic

Blue velvet, lemons, white crochet doily, transparent mug glass, angels and more, all painted in here. The angels are kissing angels nevertheless, a boy and a girl. OK, both are wearing a dress, but I can tell the difference.

As any artist, at times I do paint a very strange assembly of "things", to the viewer's eyes maybe not all make much sense. When I collected objects and arranged them to make a "Still Life” it’s remembering the past...for some of the things, not all.

In this case, I have fond memories about the angels, which brings fond memories of the person who gave them to me, a long time ago. 

It was so long ago that the giver has disappeared into the land of blurriness, I can still see her in my minds' eye but not able to make out any details. I knew her for less than a year. How odd is it that most of us forget human features but can clearly remember how that person made us feel, even if almost forty years passed.

Anyway, back to the...angels. Her name was...? No, I do not remember it, I shall call her Irene. She was here from a foreign country, just like me, except that I came from a free country to a free country, but not her, her freedom was here in America.

I was getting married and my co-workers were happy for me gave me a party.

Irene came up to me and in her broken English, just like mine but with a different accent and said: "This is for you, please take it." I did and undid the bundle wrapped in newspaper, being very careful not to break anything. Two angels emerged, cute, innocent little figurines.

"Thanks so much, Irene, these are adorable," I said.

She then replied: "I am sorry, I wanted to get for you something more expensive but could not afford it. I am sorry that the girl angel has broken wings, I hope you will like it anyway."

It was then, looking at the back of the girl angel, that I noticed the missing wings. I thought  about the broken wings lost in a “la…la…somewhere.”

"Oh Irene, this is a beautiful gift, I shall cherish it forever."
And indeed I did!

Irene did not have the money to buy for me an expensive gift, but to me, it does not matter, the gift came from the heart and that is what counts! I was happy to receive it then and now I can still feel emotion-stirring my insides.

Thinking about Irene at times, I hope and pray that she is still in this country and free. As for me, someday I hope to earn my wings! 

The lemons are there just because I like them, especially the color.