{"title":"Fables Retold","description":"\u003cp\u003eAesop's fables have shaped human psyche for millennia. Whether we are talking about the Tortoise and the Hare or the Boy Who Cried Wolf, we are all familiar with at least a few of these timeless stories. This series explores a \"reinterpretation\" of these stories. Some are quite close to the original and some are a completely different take. All of them get down to the purpose of the fables, to teach us a simple truth about life. \u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"teamwork","title":"“Teamwork”","description":"\u003cp\u003e18x24in acrylic painting on canvas\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"mcePastedContent\" data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\"\u003eI’ve been wanting for some time to stretch myself to paint storytelling with my whimsical style. I believe this is the best way forward for my artistic future. A concept that has been in my mind equally as long has been “Fables Retold”. We are all familiar with Aesops fables -the tortoise and the hare being among the most poignant. But what if I put my own playful spin on it?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"mcePastedContent\" data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\"\u003eThat is where I have landed with this painting. What if, instead of competing against each other, they were working together? This changes the dynamic completely. It speaks to a concept very familiar in the Bible of “bearing one another’s burdens”. While this tortoise is carrying the sleepy rabbit, who knows, maybe said rabbit will return the favor?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"mcePastedContent\"\u003e In case you didn’t notice, there is also a subtle homage to Southern California. The “hare” is a jackrabbit, and the tortoise is modeled after a desert tortoise, and the setting is the Anza Borrego desert. I’ve personally seen both creatures out there, so in theory, they just need to learn to work together… haha!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luke Vann Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47657954803965,"sku":null,"price":600.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0809\/8067\/2765\/files\/FullSizeRender_ac452a94-f0e3-4f44-8238-a5d72c923f6c.heic?v=1781035047"},{"product_id":"matador","title":"“Matador”","description":"\u003cp\u003e16x20in acrylic on canvas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is the fable of the mouse and the bull.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is a necessary counter to “might makes right”. Often the mighty overcome the weak, but there’s always potential for an “upset”. The agile and brave mouse in the original fable bites the nose of the powerful bull, alludes his attacks and taunts him. The mouse says to the bull, “you big fellows don’t always have it your own way. You see, sometimes we little ones come off best”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"mcePastedContent\"\u003e We all love a story like David and Goliath. We like nothing better than underdog who overcomes the odds and proves everyone wrong, even themselves! It’s what we crave, in our movies, shows, books, sports teams and many more avenues of our day-to-day life. I think there may be a spiritual component to that as well, but that’s for another day.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"mcePastedContent\"\u003e The Matador felt right as for the mouse, although a safety pin wouldn’t be lethal, but it might at least teach the bull a lesson!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luke Vann Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47712720322813,"sku":null,"price":500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0809\/8067\/2765\/files\/FullSizeRender_db60fa9c-2a81-405a-b2bb-254aaa1101fa.heic?v=1781536317"},{"product_id":"the-beholder","title":"“The Beholder”","description":"\u003cp\u003e16x20in acrylic on canvas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is my take on Aesop’s fable: “The Cock and the Jewel”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\"\u003eThe original story goes something like this: a rooster is searching for some food, and he discovers a valuable jewel! He says “if I weren’t a rooster, I would be a lucky guy - but because I’m a rooster, I would trade some grain for all the jewels in the world!“\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis story is a good reminder that beauty and value are “in the eye of the beholder”. What you value may be completely different than me. That’s a part of the human experience! This story also reminds us that we can value things that are not worth our time and effort. This picture humbles me to re-center my heart on the things that I should be considering precious.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI thought it would be fun to change the story slightly to stress the juxtaposition. He’s now in a treasure trove, but all of his attention is on a juicy corn kernel!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luke Vann Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47754968629501,"sku":null,"price":500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0809\/8067\/2765\/files\/FullSizeRender_eb0faf86-652e-47c3-91c1-1960e980cc2e.heic?v=1782345244"},{"product_id":"fantasy","title":"“Fantasy”","description":"\u003cp\u003e16x20in acrylic on canvas. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is my take on “the fox and the grapes”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\"\u003eThe original story goes something like this: a fox finds a bunch of grapes hanging from a vine, but all his efforts are to no avail since he can’t reach them. To alleviate some of his frustration, he declares “I don’t even want grapes” \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMy take shows his fantasy. Although he boldly speaks of not wanting them, his heart truly dreams of having grapes. If only there was a way that the grapes would be easy to procure? Maybe the squirrels would be willing to help, with the agreement that he’ll no longer eat them haha!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDo you have a secret want? Something you’d never tell the world, but deep down it’s stirring within you? This painting is for you!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luke Vann Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47779094462717,"sku":null,"price":500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0809\/8067\/2765\/files\/FullSizeRender_ea740302-5884-445c-bd33-15a670c61717.heic?v=1783004721"},{"product_id":"the-grind","title":"“The Grind”","description":"\u003cp\u003e16x20in acrylic on canvas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\"\u003eThis is my take on Aesop’s Fable “The Crow And The Pitcher”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\"\u003eThe original story goes something like this: a crow is thirsty and cannot reach the water at the bottom of a pitcher, so he devises a plan to put pebbles in the vessel until the water rises to a point where he can drink it. Necessity is the mother of invention.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMy take twists it a little. In this humorous scenario, he is entertaining to get people to put pebbles in the pitcher instead of putting them in himself. It may be an extra step, but it gets the job done. Whether he puts the pebbles in himself or someone “pays for his services” he is still on the daily grind for his basic necessities. I think we all feel this painting in a way, since we all needed to do the “daily grind” at some point in our short lives, and most of us are probably in the middle of it.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luke Vann Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47819710562557,"sku":null,"price":500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0809\/8067\/2765\/files\/FullSizeRender_b0547cf5-d466-4937-ac02-9849a002bf76.heic?v=1783637967"},{"product_id":"the-choice","title":"“The Choice”","description":"\u003cp\u003e16x20in acrylic on canvas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is my take on the fable “The Lion And The Hare”.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\"\u003eThe original story goes something like this: A lion had caught a hare and was about to consume the trapped rabbit, when a deer walks into the scene. The Lion, thinking he can catch a better prize, lets go of the hare to pursue the deer. To his dismay he does not catch the deer and lost what he already caught.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis fable wrestles with common sins like greed, gluttony or lust. Because I deal with lust more often in my life, I felt that adding a twist fitting lust more fitting. If you didn’t catch it, this painting is modeled after a common meme circulating the internet, where a guy is checking out a girl walking by and his girlfriend, who he is with, notices and is appalled.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhether you deal with lust, gluttony, greed or some other sin - we are all tempted by the lie that the “grass is greener on the other side”. It is not. This painting is a warning for us all.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luke Vann Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47857745199357,"sku":null,"price":500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0809\/8067\/2765\/files\/1899E595-A89A-45FF-AD6A-3E73E3493B26.jpg?v=1784304615"},{"product_id":"what-comes-around","title":"“What Comes Around”","description":"\u003cp data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e16x20in Acrylic on Canvas\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is my take on “Two Cocks and an Eagle”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original story goes something like this: Two Cocks are fighting for supremacy of the farmyard and one prevails over the other. The victorious crow in his pride jumps to the top of the barn and calls in triumph… only to be snatched by a hungry eagle! The previously defeated rooster then rises to the prominent position of chief rooster.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis fable introduces some key concepts that we are all familiar with such as “pride comes before the fall” or “what goes around comes around”. We all have been one of these roosters at various times, whether we’re waiting for someone to save us from the proud or we are the ones blinded by pride. Either way, this is a truism that is heralded across history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMy take makes it a little more dynamic, showing the hubris of the confident rooster, bullying his foe by pinning him to the ground and his impending doom barreling swiftly towards him in the background.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Luke Vann Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47889308909821,"sku":null,"price":500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0809\/8067\/2765\/files\/35E94446-5DAE-438D-9D4E-29B46F870408.jpg?v=1784907795"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0809\/8067\/2765\/collections\/FullSizeRender_ac452a94-f0e3-4f44-8238-a5d72c923f6c.jpg?v=1782864532","url":"https:\/\/vannacrylics.com\/collections\/fables-retold.oembed","provider":"Luke Vann Art","version":"1.0","type":"link"}