I have often thought that the medieval ritual of exorcism could ironically have more relevance to the modern human psyche than the practice of modern psychotherapy.
Through mutual faith and sheer force of belief an exorcism might be intense enough to permanently cleanse the patient of the negative mental construct. Generating the required primal energy to rid a defined entity from within the soul.
Whether the resulting entity is seen as a supernatural being or as a mental construct is irrelevant, given that today these old rituals could be effective in removing an unwanted force from the deep pantheon of the Self.
I attempt to depict these psychic orphans-of-personality in my portrait studies as the dignified ghosts that they are. Sometimes they exist within a human portrait subject, and other times they exist alone in a suspended state of limbo.
I use a combination of oils, acrylics, varnishes, and inks on board, canvas, canvas board, wood, and masonite. I paint with both hands, use fingers and brushes, and always try to incorporate the unavoidable textures of dust and cat hair into the surface of the paintings.
Through mutual faith and sheer force of belief an exorcism might be intense enough to permanently cleanse the patient of the negative mental construct. Generating the required primal energy to rid a defined entity from within the soul.
Whether the resulting entity is seen as a supernatural being or as a mental construct is irrelevant, given that today these old rituals could be effective in removing an unwanted force from the deep pantheon of the Self.
I attempt to depict these psychic orphans-of-personality in my portrait studies as the dignified ghosts that they are. Sometimes they exist within a human portrait subject, and other times they exist alone in a suspended state of limbo.
I use a combination of oils, acrylics, varnishes, and inks on board, canvas, canvas board, wood, and masonite. I paint with both hands, use fingers and brushes, and always try to incorporate the unavoidable textures of dust and cat hair into the surface of the paintings.
— Sean Hopp
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Click the various areas of the figure to view individual works of art from Sean Hopp
