Trinity

8”x11” (framed 10”x13”) Painted and purchased in 2020. After buying it, I asked Tenaya how it came about: “About a year ago, I did an experimental photoshoot with 5 models. I had some basic ideas in mind to guide the shoot, but I often find that in the process 'happy accidents' happen. Trinity was similar in that it was 'discovered' in a photoshoot. The actual painting is very different than the starting point of the photo reference of course, but that's where the initial idea stemmed from. Two of the models were waiving the thin, translucent white fabric around, and ended up looking somewhat like a veil. In a separate photo, I had a cool pic of another model raising dark fabric. I played around with putting those together, and instinctually found the dichotomy interesting. It made me think of our light and shadow sides. Or, the visible and hidden aspects of our nature. I thought it was kind of cool having the light be the veiled/hidden side, and the dark being prominent/more visible. Additionally, the 'shadow' figure is nude, while the light/veiled figures are not. Going a little further out into the conceptual netherlands, something I've thought about over time is the nature of duality and oneness, and the seeming paradox of their coexistence. Though like a yin-yang symbol, the two halves are joined by a third element, which is the encompassing circle. Also along these lines of course, is the Holy Trinity as the unity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as three persons in one Godhead. The little 'blue star' at the top of the piece alludes to this concept as a unifying point in the composition.”