Earning My Stripes
‘Earning My Stripes’ Original mixed media painting of a tiger by Kirstie Page
I have to say this is perhaps one of the most introspective paintings I’ve created in a while. This is me sharing a little part of who I am behind the scenes with you.
On a lighter note, this was also me seeing whether I could successfully paint fur (after three years’ of not doing so it gave me palpitations!). And it was me playing and boundaries to see what happened as a result.
So why a Tiger? Well for a few reasons. Symbolically the Tiger represents strength and courage. I was also born under the Chinese zodiac of the Tiger (and this is also happens to be year of the Tiger). In terms of the rest of my painting, the African violets represent commitment, devotion and faithfulness. The stars represent divinity, guidance and protection. In many ways you are essentially looking at my furry self portrait.
Over the past five years, like so many others, there have been times I’ve felt like I was very nearly brought to my knees by the cumulative weight of various responsibilities, health issues, fear, grief and sadness.
I am a changed person because of them and you know what? I’m grateful.
Because of them I’ve learned to dig deep and lean into my own personal courage and strength. I’ve discovered strategies to support me to keep standing back up each time I felt like I’ve been knocked down. I’ve learnt to identify and take genuine “little kid energy” delight in tiny moments each and every day. I’ve especially learnt to back myself, to trust my instincts, to be brave enough to speak up. Most importantly, I’ve learned to disengage or walk away when it’s in my or my family’s best interests. (Wish I’d learnt that years’ ago!)
So that’s the painting, this is me. I’m a Tiger and I’m darn well proud of it. I’ve worked hard to earn my stripes and I wear them proudly, each and every day. If you haven’t done so, I encourage you to go discover yours and celebrate them. You won’t be sorry.
About Kirstie Page
Kirstie Page is an Australian mixed media artist, classically trained musician and former dementia trainer. Kirstie creates beautifully uplifting artworks that incorporate her understanding of science and symbolism to bring comfort and joy to people. Kirstie’s work has been featured in numerous galleries around Australia and her work is held widely in private collections around the world.