22" x 30"
Acrylic & Sumi Ink on watercolor paper
Original sold • limited edition prints available

The “Sword of Honor” painting was created out of a day of reworking previously painted canvases and paper pieces. The orange and gold paint is the original brush work. The red and black movements were added, years later, upside down of how the painting is viewed today.

Within the orange and red brush strokes, the image of a woman warrior in a kneeled stance of being knighted became clear for me as soon as I viewed the painting right side up. Instantly the soft voice within said, sword of honor. I knew the painting would not be finished this day and so it was set aside. Because the image is so powerful for me, I’d pull the piece out frequently and study it. I wanted to see if a knowing surfaced within myself of what the painting needed to be complete. Months later and nearly forgotten in a stack of archived watercolor pieces, I glanced over the woman warrior image and I knew instantly that a single black brush mark would call it finished. I didn’t know that the single black brush movement was about to manifest itself into an image of a black dress.

I shared my contemplation of this painting with patrons and colleagues. They too saw the black dress in the brush mark. Some saw it as a modern outfit akin to a cocktail dress. Others saw a more formal victorian dress. Yet another speaks about how the woman becomes warrior like as she seems to be stepping out of or leaving behind the societal demands of perfection, represented by the black dress.

For me, this painting is a poignant personal metaphor that echoes of one of my favorite Biblical passages; Ephesians 6:10 - 18. Of which speaks “ . . . taking on the full Armor of God. The shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And to stand firm against the powers of the dark world . . ..” I view the black brush marking as a traditional victorian dress with bustle and corset. A metaphor of conformity, servitude, and a life bound in stoic darkness. Contrasting this, the red and orange sweeps of paint represent a woman of strength with vitality, value, and integrity. I see her bowing on one knee in honor before the Creator, accepting a life of promise with purpose and freedom. The victorian dress, a totem of the stoic walking dead life of darkness is behind her. It is that from which she once lived, and has now left behind. She has emerged a warrior of Spirit - of purpose - of Light and promise.

Brenda Heim, 2005