Amazon Woman

I have wanted to create this piece for a while now. It’s based on a wonderful synchronicity. Let me tell you the story…

It was a beautiful summer’s day last July when I went to  Herbert Park Market in Ballsbridge, Dublin with a great friend who has hugely supported me through the last year of breast cancer. There’s a farmer’s market there, with some gorgeous craft stalls too. We visited the market and were then walking along by the lake chatting. I noticed a woman sitting on a bench with a very beautiful bow and arrow. It really caught my attention. Interrupting our conversation, I stopped and asked the woman about it. She told me it was her sons, and that the man who makes them normally has a stall at the market. It was an interesting exchange. We continued on our way and had a really pleasant day. 

When I got home that evening, I opened Facebook and went onto one of the breast cancer groups I am a part of. The first post on the wall was from a woman who, like me,  had just had a single mastectomy. She stated that her brother is a mythologist and had told her the story of the Lampedo or Amazon, which she thought would be a comfort to many of the women. 

The myth says that the Amazons were the most powerful women ever. In the ancient times, they were said to be a tribe of independent, mighty women.  The right breast of these warrior women would be removed so that they could achieve excellence at drawing a bow and arrow. The left breast would remain for nurturing their children whom they fiercely protected. 

It was a beautiful moment for me having such a strong synchronicity. I had goosebumps ripple through me. The experience really helped me accept the surgery I had gone through and also to be brave in fighting for the rights and safety of my daughter. So I wanted to paint this Amazon woman wielding her bow and arrow.  When I began creating it, it was daylight in the painting. (you can see below) That night I had a dream of being in a beautiful park at night time with the most stunning almost surreal purple and pink flowers with green foliage that stood illumined in the moonlight. So the next day, I began changing the painting to a night time scene with the flowers, foliage and the moon.

And now yet  another synchronicity as I write this blog…I literally just came upon this article when looking up Amazon women:

“The moon, since time immemorial, has been the symbol of everything that is feminine and beautiful. The Amazons were not just beautiful women who led an untamed life. They also used to worship the moon. Their name may have resulted from contact with the ancient Circassians who were known to worship the moon too. The word Amazon in the ancient Circassian language meant "moon-mother" or "mother of the forest". Love it!!

She is for all women. For women who have or are going through breast cancer and have fought or are fighting so bravely. For mothers everywhere who defend and protect the safety of their children. She is WOMAN!!! And she is strong!

The painting measures 70cm x 70cm, acrylic and metallic pens on deep edge Italian canvas. She costs €980 and as always I am open to you paying in instalments if that works best for you. If you would like to give her a forever home, email me at [email protected] 

I will be creating limited edition prints of this piece and it would be a lovely gift for any woman going through breast cancer or for any woman wanting to embody the energy of the Amazon woman!