Insight from Bruce . . .
When Alice called about the project, I knew it was meant to be...Her bright energy impressed me even over the phone, and I had already made sketches of Pele from previous visits to Hawaii. Like many other artists, these early attempts conveyed her as a mountain of a being, somewhat forbidding or threatening.
Talking with Alice brought forth a new image, more of a maiden who has depthless wisdom and encouragement for humans. This vision of Pele is new, a surprising invitation to access her energy and receive her benefits.
My way of painting is slow and laborious, and Pele was no exception! I prefer to do my sacred painting in a leisurely fashion, allowing the gentle nudge of inspiration to be felt in the quiet of my studio, often late at night. Goddess Pele was felt, and I like to think she
guided my brush. The heat and fire balanced by gentle strength, tender new life in the crucible of chaos, the branching spreadingelements of fire, earth, air and water...all of this is Pele.
It has been a blessed journey and I am grateful to Alice (and Pele!) for it.
Insight from Alice on how the painting of Pele came to be . . .
One day in May of 2007 it came to me that at some point, I wanted to bring Pele’s words through in the form of a book and I was leisurely contemplating what the cover would look like. Ideally, I thought, it would be a “picture” of her, but I felt that the existing pictures that artists have portrayed over the years just wasn’t the image of the Pele that I have gotten to know.
As these thoughts were going through my mind, Pele “agreed” with me that it should be a portrayal of her vs. a picture of a volcano, and so I went clicking through the internet, searching for an image that would “match” the energy that I experience with her.
Searching Artist Websites
Not finding any luck, I began looking on various artist sites, one leading to the next and soon ended up at a site called www.harmanvisions.com. Immediately, I felt there was something special here. The images were extraordinary and I knew I wanted this artist to paint Pele. I just needed a confirmation from Pele that she had guided me here and that she was in agreement. I asked her for a sign.
I clicked on the link “About the Artist” and the first line that caught my eye was, “Bruce Harman lives in Santa Cruz, California”. That was my sign! I lived in Santa Cruz for four years while I attended the University there. I loved Santa Cruz. That was my “go” to get in touch.
Contacting the Artist
I started an email to him, realizing that it was the first time for me to approach an artist without an introduction and I had no idea how commissioning an artist worked! In my email I explained my connection to Pele not knowing if he’d even heard of her, (or even if he would think I was crazy) and what I was looking for. His work was so much more advanced than many artists I had seen, that I thought he would likely be completely out of my price range, but following my guidance, I had to try.
His Reply
Within a day, his response came with an attachment! He sent me a sketch he did of Pele when he was visiting the Big Island a few years ago. It was amazing that not only did he know of Pele, he had sketched her privately and was sending it to me. When I looked at what he sent, I was awed by his skill, creativity and the details, yet, it wasn’t the Pele that I knew.
His email said that he was open to doing commission work, normally in the thousands of dollars, but because of his connection to Pele, his feeling about my request, and his desire to bring her out in the way I had described, we could “work something out”. “Let’s do it” he wrote in the final line of his email.
Getting Bruce to know the Pele I know
Needless to say, I was thrilled, and so began the journey. We talked a few times, and he asked me about the Pele I knew. He listened intently as I explained to him what I know of her, what I felt she looked like and her essence. He really seemed to “get” it.
One evening a month or so later I brought Pele through for him so he could talk to her and ask her questions directly. She said she would work with him as he continued to paint. Soon after that I also brought Pele’s energy through one afternoon as my friend took pictures to show the pose of the presence that Pele wished to portray. I sent that over to Bruce as a guide and to help him get a deeper essence as he was painting.
Progress was slow but steady
Month by month I would send him different elements for authenticity… pictures of her “favorite” Ohelo Berries to put in, ancient symbols to engrave in the lava, close ups of the foliage of the Big Island for her Haku Lei (Hawaiian headdress) and slowly but surely she began to take form. Bruce got so much of the insight on his own. He wove in wonderful symbolism into the painting, adding elements, creativity, otherworldly touches and images that kept enhancing the painting and taking it to a new level.
There were some times of lull as he moved studios and got caught up in other work, yet we both knew that when the time was right it would be done.
Meeting Bruce in Honolulu
One day in late November of 2008, I received an email from Bruce that he was visiting the islands in a few days and wondered if we could get together! I was so happy to finally meet this amazing artist that has been so beautifully and diligently creating the painting of Pele. And so we met, a year and a half after my first email to him.
Completion
Immediately when Bruce returned home from his trip, he resumed his work on Pele full force it seemed, and within a few months, he finalized the details and sent me the finished image which you see here on the website. Not only do I find it a perfect representation of the energy of her that I know, Pele does too! Now I just have to get going on the book!
I hope you find the beauty and feel the healing that can be experienced by just opening your heart to this image. Pele’s spark of light, protection and guidance is always present for you by just an inner invitation. I pray that this image of Pele helps you connect to new levels deeper within yourself. I pray that you can really feel that no matter the chaos going on around you, that truly that all is well. It is the spark of your own light within that will sustain you. Stay centered within your own light and call to Pele to help you!
Message to Bruce:
Bruce! How can I thank you enough for your time, energy, talent, passion and most of all your sensitive and loving heart that you wove so fully into this project. Thank you for being open to my desires and suggestions, for your humbleness and your light. I pray that the completion of this painting now magically opens up a whole new path for you and that millions upon millions of people can be blessed to see your beautiful work and are moved by your creations as I have been. I am blessed to know you and grateful for our friendship that has developed over the course of bringing Pele to “life” on canvas. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
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