"Face The Music" : Original Artwork by Karien Bredenkamp
"Face The Music" : Mat Boards that Original and Limited Edition Prints get shipped in

"Face The Music"

$35.00
Print Or Original?:Limited Edition Print
Quantity:
Only 24 units left

Prints: Limited edition of 25

About The Artwork:

"Face the Music" is a mesmerizing black-and-white illustration blending whimsy and depth. A jumping spider takes center stage as the conductor of a surreal symphony. Standing atop four zen rocks etched with the alchemical symbols for water, earth, fire, and air, the spider wields batons that release flowing music notes into the ether. Above it, a spider web cradles a clock, weaving a narrative of time, balance, and creativity. 

The jumping spider, known for its precision and acute vision, often symbolizes patience, strategy, and adaptability. Across cultures, spiders are considered weavers of fate, while their leaps embody courage and calculated risk. In this artwork, the spider’s role as an orchestra conductor evokes mastery over chaos and the ability to craft harmony, even amidst unpredictability.

The stacked zen rocks are a visual metaphor for mindfulness, balance, and the pursuit of inner peace. Often used in meditative practices, these stones signify the interconnectedness of stability and impermanence. Their placement beneath the spider suggests a foundation of harmony that supports dynamic creativity.

The alchemical symbols etched on the rocks represent the elemental forces of nature—water for emotion and intuition, earth for grounding and sustenance, fire for transformation and energy, and air for intellect and communication. Together, they underscore the unity of opposing forces, mirroring the multifaceted symphony of life.

Suspended above, the spider web is a testament to the artistry of connection and interdependence. In many cultures, it symbolizes creation, fate, and the unseen threads that bind us. Here, it acts as a framework linking the conductor to the greater symphony of existence, amplifying the theme of interconnected creativity.

Embedded in the web, the clock reminds us of time’s ceaseless flow and the tension between fleeting moments and eternal cycles. Its inclusion highlights the interplay of precision and spontaneity, suggesting that music, like life, is structured and free.

When these elements converge, they weave a narrative about navigating life’s complexity with balance and intention. The spider’s connection to the elements through the zen rocks suggests mastery over life’s building blocks, while the web and clock hint at the passage of time and the interwoven nature of existence. Viewers might interpret this piece as a call to face life’s challenges with composure or as a meditation on how creativity unites disparate forces into something beautiful.

"Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.’" – Mary Anne Radmacher

What do you see?

I am a collector of interpretations - if you have a unique explanation of what any of my illustrations mean to you, please submit it here:

Submit Art Interpretation