The Vestals – Protectors of Inner Fire by Anna Wypych

The painting started by listening to "Feeling Good” by Nina Simone. Before you read the rest, try to listen to this amazing song. Such a unique mood! It was followed by a lot of feelings, thoughts, and impressions, which I captured in my vision of the Vestals, priestess of the Roman goddess of the home bonfire, Vesta.

I was writing poems to complement my paintings, but this time it didn't suit it somehow. I always follow where my creativity leads me. There was so much poetry in this painting and the process of making it, that adding anything more would have been too much. The commission I did lately helped me to realize that I need some simplicity, calmness. This all ended not so simple, but I feel lighter. 

I do not want to say more about the meaning of the painting. I only would like to say something about the motif I used. Many years ago I was in a museum where I saw a tiny painting. I liked it so much that I bought a postcard with its reproduction. This postcard hung on my inspiration board when I went to high school. Then I forgot about it completly, but as someone said wisely (I do not remember who), a good piece of art, even seen for a moment, stays in our memory forever. It was exactly like that this time. I grew up, I changed, but the picture I saw in the past has been in my mind. Recently, I started a new series with a fire motif. During the work, I realized it reminded me of that tiny painting I saw so very long ago. This is it, this atmosphere, this feeling, and my tribute to the old Polish painter Konrad Krzyzanowski, "The Bride with the Lamp” 1905 oil on board 17 x 21 cm. | 6.5 x 8 in.