Xanadu Gallery | Scottsdale, AZ*

Elisabeth Ladwig - "Destined for Greatness"

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  • Regular price $350.00


Artist: Elisabeth Ladwig
Title: Destined for Greatness
Medium: Photo Collage on Watercolor Paper
Dimensions: 18"h x 12"w

Limited edition of 28; piece is unframed. Also available framed. Limited editions available in 3 other sizes.

"When we are children, authority figures might say to us, “You have your whole life ahead of you!” Of course, the scope of this life is inconceivable when a four-season year is nothing short of an eternity. We’re told to work hard and do our best; but after you’ve done your best, there’s always room for improvement. Remember, your success now will affect the college you attend, which will affect the job you get, which will affect the rest of your life. Gulp. It’s a tall, terrifying order. But relax. Don’t be so hard on yourself. Don’t take life so seriously. It all turns out fine in the end. What? The lines are blurry at best. What I love about this image is that the little cub’s crown is made of herbs and berries, not of jewels. Success means being productive to the extent that a life can be lived with love and joy and universal connection. In the sky above, an unwavering Ursa Major, the “Great Bear”, protects and supports our cub in its journey. This cub is indeed destined for greatness. And so are we. At any stage in life ~ as children, as adults, or as elders ~ we can be destined for greatness, too, this year, this week, today. We are here now, and our journey continues..." Elisabeth Ladwig

"Destined for Greatness" is a digitally composited photographic composition with a surreal and whimsical nature. It features a black bear sitting upright in a field of dandelions under an overcast sky. Atop its head is a fanciful crown adorned with yellow flowers, green leaves, and feathers sticking out. Above the bear, a bird is captured in mid-flight, adding a sense of motion to the otherwise serene scene. The background shows a distant landscape of trees and partially cultivated fields, providing a contrast between the natural wildness of the bear and the cultivated land behind. The overall effect is charmingly surreal, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy.