The Fantasy
$150.00 – $7,500.00
The Fantasy, 36 x 48″ gallery wrapped canvas, finished edges
First, I invite you to paint your own story as you enter the world of this painting. It is perfectly okay with me if you see this as a charming, sensual fairy tale, a lighthearted story of a maiden in waiting for her knight who is off fighting for the kingdom and ultimately the heart of his chased princess.
For me, The Fantasy is an attempt to express the delusional world of a survivor of Childhood Sexual Abuse. It is my story of survival, in the sense that it is the world I built in my mind to protect me from the innocence, which got locked away in a tall tower, lost in the trauma of CSA. Psychologists . I call it God’s way of protecting my soul from something my heart could not bear. call this dissociation. It is a seemingly happy, placid place of princesses longing for love, perhaps for mine. I am the swan, meandering into the picture, hoping to find meaning, immersing myself in the fantasy of perfect love, that might ease the awful feelings of being raped, my innocence ripped from me by a deranged psychopath, who wanted to steal what was mine.
This scene represents my innocence, a place of ideal love. It is a world I could escape to in my darkest hours. This painting honors that longing for the ideal. She is my dream girl, who would one day redeem me, if only I could make myself beautiful and talented enough, in her eyes. Ultimately, this was an unhealthy fantasy. It was, however, a beautiful, magical way of coping with the terrible thing that happened to me. These defense mechanisms helped me to survive. Of course, they were not so helpful in building real life relationships, which could never live up to the fantasy. Perfectionism of any kind is a killer. It is a prison, an addiction that binds us to its impossible habitudes.
continued . . .
I had to allow my perfect fantasy to die, so that real life dreams could take shape. My dream girl gave me hope and meaning throughout my long, lonely healing process. She served me well. But I had to let this ideal go. I had to accept that I could never earn this perfect love by turning myself inside out. After much therapy and soul searching I finally let go of the fantasy of my dream girl and realized I was enough.
It was in that moment Cate walked into my life. It was love at first sight, a miracle. She has been my mate for fourteen years now, and counting, literally sent from Heaven above. From the beginning, everything was easy with her, no fussing around, negotiating, no "active listening." It was as if we were made for each other. She became my best friend and lover, wrapped into one beautiful human being. There was nothing to prove or to earn. She has given my life meaning again. But please remember, it was not she who redeemed me. I had to redeem myself before I could be ready for her. That was hard work. We each of had done so much work in previous relationships, banging our heads against the walls of our self-made purgatories, until we each accepted that we could not force it. We needed a higher power toto allow a higher power to take the wheel. God knew we needed each other. We needed a companion, not a savior. I thank God for guiding me, eventually, in His perfect timing, to her. Even when I didn't believe love was possible for me, God believed in it for me. And I kept going, even when the night was dark and I had given up. Cate and I were driven, always to hope. We are living proof that hope is a force far greater than any neurotic's fantasy.
It is also perfectly okay with me if you see this as a charming, sensual romp. A lighthearted fancy of a knight fighting for the heart of his chased princess. I invite you to paint your own story as you enter the world of this painting.
Emerald Siren
Emerald Siren is another exploration of the idea of perfect muse. Innocence lost is a common theme in my work.
More romantic paintings . . .
The Choice
Alexandra with Horse
Perhaps Love
More gallery paintings by Robert Maniscalco.
Have you considerd having Robert paint your portrait or the portrait of someone you love?
Additional information
| Type of Work | Original Painting by Robert Maniscalco, Giclee – archival inks, stretch on canvas, Artists Proof (AP) – archival inks and paper |
|---|
You must be logged in to post a review.
Would you like to get inspiration in your inbox, rather than ads for more stuff? Welcome to ManiscalcoGallery.com
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.