The Gift of Koi
Paintings and Reflections
by
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While landscapes and wildlife took up some years of painting in my life, it was the ponds that began to draw me in more and more. For one thing, we had ponds in our yards. While I loved painting giraffes, ostriches, and koalas, they just were not accessible subjects for me. Besides, the ponds kept calling to me. The flow and reflections of the water, and of course, the easy movement of the fish themselves, all seemed to speak. The translation was immediate and yet stood up to evaluation as well. I love that when it happens. You are fed immediately but find deeper nourishment by further examination. And as I dug deeper, I found more meaningful connection with not only the sensory attraction to the water, but the real heart of it. And here is the simple explanation. All cultures respond to the symbolism of water as representing movement through its fluidity and cycles. As being one of the heavy elements along with earth (of the four Greek elements of water, earth, air, and ether), it has a grounding or stabilizing effect. And just as feelings need to pass on through us to allow the energy not to be trapped or stagnant, water represents that need for flow. What is depression if not a stagnation of feeling? (Michael Singer, The Untethered Soul) Nature shows us this need for fluidity and movement constantly. It’s as essential to the earth as blood circulation is to the body. And so it’s no wonder that we look at water and feel instantly better. It’s our subconscious acknowledgement of our own, and the entire earth’s, need for renewal and flow, which actually results in restoring health. To see water is to see grace. My daughter and spiritual teacher, Cassandra, guided me to look at those times in my life when I was painting ponds to see if perhaps I was drawn to them because those were times in my life when I needed healing. And indeed they were. One of Oprah’s most basic teachings is that there are no accidents. This, and everything that follows, seemed to be an example.
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About the Book
Embark on an underwater journey filled with light and love. Through paintings, poetry, and prose, you will share in the insights and heartfelt beauty of Meredith Cope’s vision—tender reflections on the power of what nature and art bring to our lives. As is typical of life, the artist’s personal story of her quest to understand color revealed so much more. We often think we are about one thing, only to find that life leads us to places of its own design. Join in her journey that connected her to her purpose—to share the gift of koi.
Primal elements of water, early life, light, and reflections call forth deep meaning and messages of hope and connection—sustaining insights for us all. The oil paintings of Hawaiian koi by the artist seem lit from within by that message. Powerfully present, the koi flow in sparkling images across the canvas and across the page, beckoning us to go deeper into our own journey of understanding and potential within.
Meredith Cope’s work has been acclaimed as one that defies classification. It is classical in form while exhibiting a unique departure inclusive of a wide range of work—including dreamlike aspects of surrealism, impressionistic color and light effects, with the raw immediacy of expressionism. Paradoxically, it possesses a firm grip on reality while transporting the viewer into the artist’s own personal suspension of space.
“According to Japanese legend, if a koi succeeded in climbing the falls at a point called Dragon Gate on the Yellow River, it would be transformed into a dragon. I think Meredith has already succeeded in the art scene; she has reached perfection and her works are very inspiring. If you look closely, you can see the water moving … Congrats and keep showing your good work.”
—Goncalo Madeira, CEO,
meetiNG Art Gallery, Lisbon, Portugal
About the Author
Meredith Cope is an award-winning artist whose work was exhibited in the Ohio Governor’s Mansion for two years. Recently she was honored as a guest artist for the Lisbon International Contemporary Exhibition in October 2013. Currently, she enjoys a presence in galleries in both the Seattle area and in Hawaii. The fluidity of water and koi are the focus of her work. She lives in Dayton, Ohio with her husband and enjoys her grown children, their families and grandchildren.