I’ve always loved the image of the black sheep as the one who stand apart from the crowd…the unique and different one…and while I worked on this I kept singing the song in my head so I looked up the origins and now it makes so much more sense. From a nursery rhyme circa 1744 the song goes:

Bah, Bah, a black Sheep,
Have you any Wool,
Yes merry have I,
Three Bags full,
One for my Master,
One for my Dame,
One for my Little Boy
That lives in the lane.

The song references the ‘Great Custom’ Wool Tax in Britain at the time…One bag for the church, one bag for the nobility and one for the little boy down the lane (supposedly the farmer’s child). It appears the original lyrics were ‘none for the little boy’ meaning the taxes were so steep there was nothing left for the children.

It is also noteworthy that black wool was desirable because it required less dying to make darker fabrics.

In the spiritual and symbolic realm, I created it because I love the image of one who stands apart from the norm…Being the black sheep often signifies a unique spiritual role, where the individual is seen as a catalyst for breaking generational cycles and healing ancestral wounds. This position allows for personal growth and the opportunity to challenge outdated traditions, ultimately leading to a deeper understanding of one's true purpose

This one is acrylic on canvas and will be signed by me upon delivery. It it multi-dimensional and has an overlay of amber shellac to give it a slight sheen and additional texture. It feels folk art because I painted it right before I went to the Newport Folk Festival and the vibe was just right.

Shipped from my studio within 48 hours. All images copyright Kelli Bickman, all rights reserved.