16 Handrail Painting meditations

A strange place to begin, but the 16 Handrail painting meditation threw up some interesting thoughts. When I started these reflections on paintings I often had deep thoughts, and this inspired me. With other images, I tended to be carried away with poetic verse. Even the most mundane of objects can inspire; sometimes with deep thoughts and at others with the appearance of the artwork. Both are true in this case. Let me draw your attention to the details first, and maybe something deep will come to you.

The handrail takes centre stage. Functional with some minor embellishments, like the round ferrule/cap on the lower post. The railing is well used and paint is peeling off. Bright blue high-lights show where the sun is shining off the black paintwork. The blue is carried around the painting, you see its echoes in the cars parked at the back. These also shine white in the sun.

There’s a large gnarled tree in the top left hand corner, surrounded by greenery. Leaves and plants ranging from dark olive to emerald green.

The steps are suggested with a few lines but mainly paint. Some signs of wear are apparent in colours of sandy brown with hints of purple and black. The brown ink bloom on the slope beneath the rails reaches up as if trying to climb the slope. If that were possible.

In my days as an Occupational Therapist, steps played a significant role. Working in Orthopaedics and later with disabled children, handrails were a key safety feature that we assessed and arranged to install. A focus of assessment, especially of their condition and positioning. It’s ingrained, as is gait analysis. This handrail is typical of the funtional rails we’d arrange to fit, and I will always see them from a dual perspective.