Battle of the Mind.

“You cannot keep birds from flying over your head but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair” ― Martin Luther

A sacred friend shared this quote with me when I was going through the most traumatizing season of my life. I found these words about birds who tempt and attack our minds to be powerfully descriptive of the growing battle in my mind – fear, stress and anxiety.

The central figure is a portrait of myself. My face is made of wooden sticks to symbolize how I felt like a puppet most of my life. I struggled with wanting to honor God and somehow please others at the same time. This was a huge struggle for me.

My brain is "exposed" to symbolize that the battle is in my mind and I can feel like I have no protection. My mind is where the war is.

My hair is made of a "Cat's Tail" plant. This is to symbolize the fragility and frailty of humanity and how we are made from elements of the earth.

The Greek iconic beams of golden light are made of wooden sticks and are painted gold. They are made of wood, once again, because they appear to be something they aren't, real gold. This symbolizes how we are called saints but I felt like such a screw up during the season I made this piece. This imagery sits squarely in the tension of what God says and what I actually felt like.

The rainbow is made up of 13 strips of fabric for each color and wraps around me and my mind as a symbol of protection like God's War-rainbow. There are 13 strips of fabric symbolizing the the 13th Amendment - Freedom from Slavery. Though I am "free," I feel enslaved to the battle of the mind. The rainbow strips are placed to remind me that even though I am in a spiritual battle, I am NOT a slave to my thoughts.

The enflamed golden clouds and explosive forms symbolize the battle. There are 13 birds that I cannot keep from flying over my head. Again, 13 birds is symbolic of the 13th Amendment, even though I am "free" the battle continues. Each bird brings an attack in my mind. The largest bird is centered at the top and is in a crucified form symbolizing the deep desire I have for the enemy to be finally defeated.

Battle of the Mind is what I consider to be my greatest work of art to date. Here is why. I have put more emotion, effort and time into this piece than any other. I poured my heart and soul in creating this. There is literally blood, sweat and tears that were shed onto this composition throughout the process. I explored more techniques and materials than I ever have as well. I have never created a more personal and meaningful piece of art in my life.

This section of scripture is what Battle of the Mind is all about. "12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." The birds in this piece are the spiritual forces that we battle everyday. To me, this composition is a personal visual interpretation of Ephesians 6:10-20 and Martin Luther's quote.

Chris Armfield is the only artist.

Battle of the Mind is an original mixed media composition by Chris Armfield.
Sale Price - $13,000
If you are interested in purchasing this piece please contact me at caa@fieldart.org

I am happy to discuss original artwork commissions.