This is the final installment of my work on the piece I've been lovingly referring to as Attorney Angel. In summary, this has been one of the most challenging commissions I've ever had because the client is a dear friend. Her request was to let this piece inspire her to keep fighting the good fight when things are difficult in her professional life. For someone to trust me with this kind of responsibility has been one I've taken very seriously. You can read more from past parts:
There are folks who thoughtfully say things like "you're so talented" and I appreciate those comments greatly. I don't think I have talent at all, (I am not fishing for compliments here) I want to explain different perspectives on talent. Because there is skill, hard work, and sometimes luck/privilege and people find themselves on different paths.
My dear friend whom the Attorney Angel is based on--is the most talented person I know. I don't mean in just one way, either. She synthesizes a variety of elements within herself that often lead her to positive outcomes. The Gen-Z kids call it Lucky Girl syndrome but manifesting positive outcomes for oneself isn't a new concept. However, it was definitely the kind of thing that Angel has been doing since her youth before she knew what to call it. Have dark, awful things happened to her? Absolutely. Does she sometimes hide these things from others because she chooses to not give them power? Maybe. Does this talent give her a special kind of tactic as a lawyer? I can only assume so.
Angel has curiosity, a desire to achieve goals, even ones that are 40 years away. Raw talent for survival, allowing for curiosity to bloom into mastery over different periods of time.
Angel's scales of justice are held together by pink thread, specifically an embroidery thread. Using a large-eyed needle, the threads are sewn into the paper.
This is significant because of an antique spool of thread once owned by her grandmother. The work ethic and morals of Angel's grandmother are key to her approach as a lawyer. These elements are sewn into this piece the same way they are sewn into her very being. Using excerpts from the fifth edition Legal Dictionary, I found some relevant text for different parts of the piece back in Part 3. I could just feel that by combining the thread and the definition texts, The piece would come together.
Court of Law in the top left corner above the scene. Hung Jury by the jury box. Justice near the judge.
Attorney floating near Angel's face. Fighting Words in the opposing attorney's area. Divorce and Custody of Children near the scales. Sedition by the American and State of Oregon flags.
What are laws if not something we are taught to value through our loved ones, shining through generations of pain, suffering, joy, and survival? Something Angel and I both encountered by working in/around the law is that human beings can do the right thing even if it's illegal and people regularly do legal things that are harmful and wrong. Laws and time make fools of us all, we can only hope for better in the future.
In it's final form, The Power of Just Us (Angel Attorney) was delivered to the client. I did not warn her of it's arrival nor of this blog detailing the processes behind the art and my emotionally charged feelings throughout. She called me and we spoke for an hour, catching up and crying intermittently. Among our discussion, we talked of the bonds between people that can only be forged in the struggle of youth and identity development. Through dark, difficult, ugly, hilarious, stupid, risky, outrageous, audacious, and unpredictable choices and/or situations there should always be always be glimmers of hope and love. If not--Attorney Angel will take the case!