Artwork Analysis #1: At Your Command

 

Introduction

 

At Your Command is a graphite pencil drawing that explores themes of power, accountability, and transformation. Originally inspired by the quote, "Stop letting the day run you and start running your day," this piece draws from various influences, including Neville Goddard's book At Your Command and the Hermetic principle of correspondence. This universal law underscores the mystical relationship between one's inner world and outer world, serving as a central theme in the visual narrative.

 

In this analysis, I will guide you through the composition, colour choices, symbolism, and techniques used to create this work, offering profound insight into the layers of meaning behind the art. My goal is to provide context and a deeper understanding of the piece for those who are curious, while also serving as a resource for other creatives who may be developing concepts of their own. By sharing my thought process and approach to creating art, I hope to lead by example and offer valuable insights that can be of great service.

 

Return To Sender

 

Collectively, the items on the desk reflect the subject’s current self-concept. Signs of escapism are evident in the consumption of junk food, alcohol, and weed—used to numb his pain and avoid facing the reality of “overdue” bills and “final notice” letters. The presence of an open wallet and some loose change further emphasises a life currently marked by poverty, lack, and scarcity.

 

 

At first glance, these letters appear to be ordinary notices for overdue bills, perhaps sent by debt collectors or bailiffs. However, upon closer inspection, the details reveal deeper meanings. The subject line of the “final notice” letter reads “RE: The Misuse of A Powerful Asset,” referring to the power of one’s mind. While the full subject line of the “overdue” letter isn’t visible, it reads “RE: Missed Meditation Session.”

 

Both letters are signed “BIG KID :)”, leaving the true identity of the sender open to interpretation. Whether you see it as the universe, infinite intelligence, a higher self, your inner child, God, or any other entity, the message is clear: it’s trying to wake this person up, draw attention to their current state, and guide them toward their true path rather than the one that has been scripted for them.

 

The first letter serves as a wake-up call, almost a frustrated plea: “I’m sick and tired of telling you the same thing over and over again. How many ways do I need to say it until it finally clicks?” Meanwhile, the second letter is an invitation to reschedule a missed appointment with oneself. We’ve all been in situations where we promised to stick to a new habit or make a change but failed to show up for ourselves. We break promises, neglect our commitments, and ultimately let ourselves down. When we make commitments to others, we go to great lengths to honour them, yet when it comes to doing something for ourselves, we easily push it aside.

 

Despite being written so small, much of the first letter is actually legible. If you’re curious about what the full letter says, I’ll share it at the end of this analysis.

  

Memento Mori

 

When we take a closer look at the loose change on top of the wallet, we notice that one of the coins stands out. It is a Memento Mori coin. Memento Mori is a Latin phrase that translates to “remember death”; it means remember that you must die. This phrase embodies the ancient practice of contemplating the inevitability of death and reflecting on one's own mortality. In his book Meditations, the Stoic philosopher and Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius wrote, “You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think.”

 

 

Throughout history, many artists have explored themes of mortality in their work. This is especially evident in the 17th century, when a genre known as “Vanitas” emerged. Vanitas artworks often include objects such as skulls, hourglasses, roses, wilting flowers, and extinguished candle flames to symbolise the fleeting nature of life.

 

Philippe de Champaigne, a French painter, explored this theme in his painting Still Life with a Skull, which depicted what he believed to be the three essentials of existence. The painting features a tulip (symbolising life), a skull (symbolising death), and an hourglass (symbolising time).

 

 

Ryan Holiday, the founder of Daily Stoic and author of books such as Ego is the Enemy and The Obstacle is the Way, carries a Memento Mori medallion in his pocket, which is where my initial inspiration for depicting it as a coin came from. His medallion, inspired by Champaigne’s artwork, is engraved with these same three symbols.

 

 

Memento Mori artworks serve as reminders of the shortness, fragility, and fleeting nature of life on the physical plane. In this artwork, I’ve used Memento Mori to convey a double meaning. The first is a reminder of the mortality of our physical bodies during this incarnation of life on Earth and an encouragement to live life intentionally, in the way you want, rather than how you’ve been told or are expected to live it. The second meaning will be explored later in this analysis.

 

Eternal Flame

 

Subtle and discreet, yet crucial to the narrative, the ashtray holds more than it seems. Upon closer inspection, we discover that the smoke rising from the ashes is no ordinary smoke—it takes the form of a phoenix...

 

 

The phoenix is a mythical creature often used to symbolise themes of rebirth, resilience, transformation, and immortality. According to legend, when this mythical bird meets its end, it bursts into flames and is reborn from its own ashes. This cycle of death and resurrection represents the idea of new beginnings and underscores the cyclical nature of life and death. Because of its ability to regenerate and endure through endless cycles of rebirth, the phoenix is also seen as a symbol of immortality.

 

You Cannot Serve Two Masters

 

Letters of warning, Memento Mori, the phoenix–on their own, these allegorical elements are merely fragments of a puzzle, lacking significant meaning. However, when we connect these pieces, a more powerful message emerges. To fully grasp this message, we must first understand the meaning of the phrase "you cannot serve two masters."

 

Here’s the full quote by Neville Goddard from his book At Your Command:

 

"You cannot serve two masters, therefore, to take your attention from one state of consciousness and place it upon another is to die to one and live to the other."

 

Remember, the arrangement of the final notice letters, accompanied by the wallet and loose change, suggests the subject's current expression in life—one of poverty, lack, and scarcity. To shift from this undesired state of poverty to a desired state of wealth, he must metaphorically "die" to one state (poverty) and live in another (wealth). The metaphorical requirement for this transformation is symbolised by placing the memento mori coin, "remember you must die," among the items that represent poverty.

 

He cannot simultaneously serve both poverty and wealth as his masters; he must choose one. By focusing his attention on only one, he will naturally suffocate or drown out its polar opposite. This is the essence of "you cannot serve two masters" and “you can’t sit in two chairs at once,” illustrating the Hermetic principle and universal law of polarity.

 

This transition from poverty to wealth can be interpreted differently depending on one's circumstances. Poverty doesn’t just refer to money. One can be poor in love, poor in knowledge, or even poor in time (at least in our linear perception of it). The message remains the same: to embrace a new state, one must relinquish the old.

 

 

“A person who cannot give up anything can change nothing.” – Armin Arlet (Attack on Titan)

 

Nothing changes if nothing changes. You must SACRIFICE someone.

That “someone” being the version of yourself that you currently assume.

 

So far, we've discussed the letters, the Memento Mori coin, and the phoenix rising from the ashes, all serving as powerful visual metaphors for personal growth and transformation. But what else do you notice about the contents of the ashtray? It doesn’t hold a lit cigarette—it holds a lit spliff. This distinction is key. Why? Simply put, weed gets you "high."

 

Therefore, the smoke taking the form of a phoenix and rising from the ashtray symbolises ascending to a “higher” state of consciousness. The soft, weightless, and ephemeral qualities of the smoke further illustrate the absence of resistance in rising. You’ll also notice the remains of an extinguished cigarette, which suggest the death of the old self, while the phoenix and the lit spliff foreshadow a shift in the subject’s frequency, leading to the birth of a new self in the following artworks, Vortex of Wisdom and Agents of Abundance.

 

 

At Your Command isn’t an artwork about despair; it’s a visual narrative of hope. As an emblem of resilience, the phoenix represents the idea that one can overcome adversity and emerge even stronger and wiser, no matter how dire the circumstances. It serves as a reminder that within any incarnation, you can reimagine and remake yourself as many times over as you will physically, mentally, and spiritually allow.

 

Where Attention Goes, Energy Flows

 

In this piece, light is used to represent attention. The beams penetrating through the broken window, the artificial light emanating from the laptop screen, and even the light reflecting off the edge of the large shard of glass all highlight where this person’s attention is directed. The items in red/orange represent what is consuming that attention, and while the laptop itself isn’t red, we can easily imagine a red Netflix symbol behind that screen. The universe is spotlighting what this person is focusing on, and therefore, what is shaping their current reality.

 

 

It's important to note that the chosen items are metaphorical and not intended to preach about whether or not one should smoke, drink, use drugs, or eat junk food. I was literally scoffing down a large fries while drawing the poison symbol… you do you. These items were selected as they can be universally understood, at least in the West, where most of us either personally understand or have witnessed the impacts of alcohol, junk food, and smoking within our society. They serve as metaphors for bad habits or behaviours we engage in that we wish to change or that no longer align with the version of ourselves we aspire to be. They’re designed to convey the broader message of being mindful of where one directs their attention. If the metaphorical shoe fits, wear it.

 

Remember, energy is neutral. It doesn’t matter if your feelings are positive, negative, upside down, left, right, straight, or gay—what matters is where you place your attention and the strength of your emotional conviction, your will. At the end of the day, we become what we think about—emotionally charged thoughts create reality.

 

If you focus on lack, you’ll experience lack. If you focus on abundance, you’ll experience abundance. If you focus on hate, you’ll experience hate. If you focus on love, you’ll experience love.

  

Where attention goes, energy flows.

 

Invisible Hand

 

The dynamic composition of the artwork draws the viewer's attention from the oversized hands in the foreground to the smaller figure seated at the desk. This striking contrast in scale underscores the power dynamics suggested by the title, At Your Command. The massive hands dominate the scene as the primary focal point, while the figure at the desk becomes a secondary focus, heightening the tension between the two. The strings connected to the hands suggest puppet-like control over the man, reinforcing themes of power, manipulation, and a lack of autonomy.

 

The bird’s-eye perspective further diminishes the puppet, making him appear inferior and vulnerable. This high vantage point highlights the dominance of the larger hands, symbolising their control over the subject and deepening the sense of entrapment. The scale and positioning of these hands around the figure confine him to a restricted space, while the puppet’s facelessness amplifies his loss of individuality and control.

 

The right hand wears a ring engraved with "carpe diem," a Latin phrase meaning "seize the day." This detail represents the "hands of time," reminding us to live in the moment. The emergence of these hands from a portal in the wall behind the puppet further underscores his lack of awareness, suggesting that he is being controlled by an unseen force or an "invisible hand."

 

 

Tethered Soul

 

The subject appears as a puppet, with skin resembling the texture of wood, like that of a wooden dummy. This wooden form reflects the idea of an empty vessel, temporarily inhabited and bound by a soul. The puppet is dressed in a white shirt and tie, typical of someone working a traditional 9-to-5 corporate job. His posture, loose tie and dishevelled appearance convey themes of stress, anxiety, desperation, and defeat.

 

Upon closer inspection, we see that the puppet’s right hand, which holds a whiskey bottle, wears a ring on the same finger as the larger hand. This ring is also engraved with “carpe diem.” From this, we can infer that the larger hand and the hand of the puppet belong to the same person; he is, in fact, pulling his own strings.

 

 

This imagery suggests that he is in a self-imposed prison, trapped by his own self-limiting beliefs. The scene highlights the paradox and complexity of being both the controller and the controlled. It emphasises the internal struggle and the hidden aspects of one’s influence over oneself. Given this context, the tie could also symbolise a noose, representing how he is restricted, suffocated, and strangled by his own actions and self-imposed limitations, with its looseness hinting at his desire to escape or break free from his current reality.

 

Various leading lines are used in this piece to guide the viewer’s attention to key elements of the artwork. For example, the puppet strings act as visual guides, directing the gaze towards the puppet at the desk. The swirling galaxy in the background creates a vortex effect, pulling the viewer into the scene and further emphasising the subject’s feeling of entrapment. Beams of light and shards of glass are strategically placed to highlight important details on the desk, mirroring the subject’s scattered attention and reinforcing the overall sense of chaos in the composition.

 

 

 

Triangles are also used throughout to reinforce a sense of instability and uncertainty. The puppet strings, for instance, form inverted triangles, symbolising the subject’s fragile mental and emotional state. The uneven ground beneath the desk adds to this feeling of imbalance, further reflecting the subject’s internal struggle and turmoil.

 

 

Initially, the puppet’s hands were going to mirror the exact positions of the larger hands, further hinting that they belonged to the same person. However, my model mentioned that it didn’t feel natural for how he would pour a bottle of whiskey, so we decided to go with what felt more authentic.

  

The idea for the ring wasn’t part of the original concept for this artwork. Initially, I planned to depict an hourglass tattoo on the hand to symbolise time, suggesting that the person was being controlled by the "hands of time." This tattoo would have been on the puppet’s hand as well, reinforcing the idea that this person lacks accountability for his own actions and blames external factors, such as time, for his situation.

 

However, when taking the reference photos for this composition, I forgot to consider the angle of the hand to make space for the tattoo. As I pieced together the composition in Photoshop, I realised there wasn’t enough room to add the hourglass tattoo in a noticeable way, and it wouldn’t have the intended impact. I decided I needed a different solution. I wanted something that would stand out and still relate to time, and ultimately, incorporating a ring with the words “carpe diem” engraved on it proved to be the best option. A ring would be subtle but still visible on the puppet’s smaller hand, and “seize the day” aligns more fittingly with the overall artwork, its title, At Your Command, and its messaging. It's even ironic, as the hands that command the subject to "seize the day" also seem to be the ones restricting him.

 

Don’t Chase. Become.

 

In this part of the artwork, we see a carrot wrapped in a dollar note, hanging from a string. This image directly references the concept of "dangling a carrot in front of a donkey," symbolising the futile chase for something that always seems just out of reach. The dollar note represents the pursuit of money and being trapped in the endless cycle of the 9-5 grind—the rat race where one works just to survive. This imagery further illustrates the subject’s current state of lack, as he is chasing something he desires or believes he needs but does not already possess.

 

 

Notice the subtle tear in the note? This detail isn’t merely for decoration; it’s intentional. I included this tear so we can recognise this specific dollar note in the following artworks. Without revealing too much about the narrative in Agents of Abundance, I can tell you that there will be multiple dollar notes featured. The tear ensures continuity and allows us to distinguish this little guy from the rest of the crowd. Looks can be deceiving—if you thought he was a simple side character, or not a character at all, think again.

  

At first glance, it may appear that the subject is just an ordinary person working a 9-5 job, and "At Your Command" refers to him simply following orders from his boss like a game of "Simon says". But beneath this surface-level interpretation lies a deeper meaning related to the broader theme we’ve been exploring in this analysis: the idea that you control your own reality and that the power lies in your hands—it’s all "at your command."

 

Additionally, we notice that unlike the other strings in the drawing, which are visibly connected to the hands of the “puppet master”, this particular string hangs straight down, with no visible connection to who or what is controlling it. This ambiguity invites the viewer to use their imagination to fill in the gaps. Could there be the hand of a mysterious third party at play, or is the subject once again pulling his own strings in a never-ending game of cat and mouse? Regardless of the interpretation, the message remains clear: you are in direct control of your own actions, despite the behaviours of those around you.

 

You may have heard the saying "Don’t chase the cat." If you chase the cat, it will run away, but if you have what the cat wants, it will come to you. This idea of "don’t chase, become" will be further illustrated in parts 2 and 3, Vortex of Wisdom and Agents of Abundance.

 

 

The Dose Makes The Poison

  

In my initial composition, the McDonald’s fries featured the iconic "M" logo. However, a friend and my brother raised concerns about potential copyright infringement. Although I considered this, I wasn’t particularly worried because I viewed it as commentary. Ultimately, since the logo wasn’t absolutely essential to the piece, I decided it wasn’t worth the risk. So, in order to maintain the same effect without directly using the logo, I hinted at it instead.

 

 

I chose to use the idea of the Monopoly stickers to show the “M” logo being peeled away, removing its mask to reveal its “true identity”— poison. The skull and crossbones symbol, commonly associated with toxic substances, plays a key role in this theme of poison. It represents not only the physical poisoning we subject ourselves to but also the mental and spiritual.

  

Although not equal in distance, the arrangement of the whiskey bottle, fries, and spliff, forms a triangle—a shape commonly used to symbolise three interconnected elements. This symbolism is echoed in various cultural representations, such as the philosopher’s stone, the triquetra (trinity knot), delta (Greek letter), and many more.

 

 

In this artwork, I explore the effects of poisoning on different aspects of our being—mind, body, and spirit—which correspond to the mental, physical, and spiritual planes of existence.

 

Junk food like the McDonald's fries, which are high in unhealthy fats, sugars, and salts, primarily affects the body on a physical level. Therefore, the fries symbolise the direct physical “poisoning” that results from poor dietary choices, negatively impacting physical health.

 

Alcohol consumption is commonly associated with mental effects such as impaired judgment, reduced cognitive function, and altered states of consciousness. It can lead to dependency and negatively impact mental health, contributing to anxiety, depression, and impaired decision-making. Thus, whisky in the artwork symbolises mental "poisoning."

  

Weed, while often discussed in terms of physical health, can also profoundly affect one's spiritual or emotional state. It is known to alter perception, enhance introspective thoughts, and create a sense of heightened awareness or euphoria. However, overuse or dependency can dull the senses and diminish one’s clarity of thought or spiritual grounding. In this context, weed represents spiritual "poisoning," as it can either elevate or cloud one's spiritual or emotional experiences.

 

As the saying goes, “the dose makes the poison.”

 

The small, triangular shard of glass at the centre of the space between these three objects further reinforces this symbolism. The crack in the glass suggests a fracture or misalignment in the balance between the subject’s mind, body, and spirit. Its orientation toward the spliff, representing the spiritual aspect, along with the ashtray’s physical distance from the other items on the desk, implies that the subject’s spirit may be the most troubled or distorted at this moment.

 

 

Again, these items are only used metaphorically to represent things that no longer serve us. It’s our lack of discipline and overindulgence in these self-prescribed poisons that keep us enslaved.

 

The poison imagery ties into the broader narrative of the artwork, suggesting that what we consume and focus on can either heal or harm us. It serves as a reminder to be mindful of what we allow into our lives and the potential consequences of those choices.

  

As Within, So Without

 

Notice that the window is partially boarded up from the inside, not the outside. Beams of light shine through from the exterior, illuminating the interior and suggesting that the answers the subject is seeking are already within him. These beams draw his attention inward. And when we look out the window, who do we find as the source of this light? The universe.

 

 

The window is boarded up from the inside because the subject himself put up the boards, attempting to shut the universe out. However, the beams of light have broken through, shattering the window and sending shards of glass toward the desk, forcing the subject to acknowledge these internal truths. This illustrates the idea that you can’t keep the universe out because the universe—or YOU-niverse—is inside you. Even if confined in a dark, stone-cold, gritty room, the universe cannot be shut out, as demonstrated by the gaping hole burned through the concrete wall.

 

The swirling galaxy and fiery red border can also symbolise chaos or inner turmoil, reflecting the subject’s current state of distress, anxiety, and desperation. This demonstrates the correspondence between the subject’s inner world and his outer world. The universe communicates with him in a way that mirrors his own energy: the same aggressive, unstable, and self-destructive force he projects is reflected back to him, evident in the stern letters, the destruction of the window, and the burning hole in the wall. In other words, the universe is matching his chaos.

 

 

The emotional tone of the artwork is heightened by the stark contrast between the grayscale palette and the fiery reds and oranges surrounding the galaxy. The dominance of grayscale gives the piece a sombre, dramatic quality, while the selective use of intense reds and oranges creates a sharp visual contrast that draws the viewer's eye to the swirling vortex. Paired with the stone-cold, gritty texture of the walls, the grayscale conveys a sense of lifelessness or the mundane, while the fiery colours evoke danger, conflict, and power. This dynamic between the monochrome and the vibrant hues mirrors the internal struggle between control and chaos. Red, in particular, is used throughout to symbolise warning, consumption, destruction, and death, amplifying the tension and turmoil within the scene.

 

You'll also notice that the continuity between the galaxy and the wooden texture of the puppet’s right arm foreshadows changes in elements of the next artwork and underscores the belief that the universe is inside you. This ties into why the subject is made of wood, beyond simply being a puppet—something that will be clarified in Part 2, Vortex of Wisdom.

 

 

As within, so without. As Above, so below. As the universe, so the soul. 

— Hermes Trismegistus

 

 

 

Order Within Chaos

 

A few years ago, I didn’t pay much attention to composition. Since then, I’ve made it my mission to carefully consider compositional rules that complement and enhance the overall themes, tone, and messaging of my work. Throughout this analysis, we’ve already touched on several of these aspects—perspective, focal points, lighting, colour, texture, triangles, leading lines, balance, and scale. However, my favourite technique by far is the use of sacred geometry.

 

Sacred geometry, including the Golden Ratio and the Fibonacci sequence, has been used by artists and architects for centuries to create works that are both visually harmonious and symbolically rich.

 

 

 

The Golden Ratio, approximately 1.618, is prevalent throughout nature, appearing in the spirals of hurricanes and galaxies, the curve of elephant tusks, and even in the human body—as seen in the proportion of your hand to your forearm and the spacing between your knuckles. This ratio is often regarded as the mathematical foundation of beauty. It occurs when a line is divided into two parts so that the ratio of the whole length to the longer part is the same as the ratio of the longer part to the shorter part.

 

 

The Fibonacci sequence, a series in which each number is the sum of the two preceding ones, also manifests in nature. It can be observed in the branching of trees, the arrangement of leaves, and the spiral patterns of shells and flowers. This sequence symbolises the interconnectedness, harmony, and divine order within the universe, bridging the mathematical and natural worlds.

 

 

In my artwork, I’ve used the golden spiral as a guide multiple times, not only to enhance its aesthetic appeal but also to convey a sense of order within chaos. Even amidst disorder, there is harmony and balance. The glowing spliff serves as the focal point of the artwork’s primary hidden golden spiral, guiding the viewer’s eye toward the phoenix rising from the ashes. This element underscores the core message of the piece—the potential for personal transformation.

 

 

Conclusion

 

At Your Command serves as a visual meditation on the importance of self-awareness, intention, and transformation. It’s a call to action to reclaim one's agency over life, an invitation to become the conscious architect of one’s reality. Through the interplay of symbols like the letters, Memento Mori coin, phoenix, and various light sources, the artwork reveals a deeper truth about the power of attention and highlights the potential for personal evolution.

 

It reminds us that, just like the phoenix, we have the power to rise from the ashes of our former selves and be reborn into a new state of consciousness. The real question is, which master will you choose to serve?

 

 

Thank you for taking the time to explore this piece with me. I hope this analysis has deepened your understanding of the artwork and my vision behind it. For fellow artists, I hope my approach to colour, symbolism, and composition sparks inspiration or offers guidance for your own creative journey.

 

If this artwork resonated with you, both the framed original and limited Collector's Edition prints are available. Feel free to message me your interest, or click the links to check them out. Your support truly helps keep the creative process alive!

  

At Your Command is part of a trilogy that follows the main character’s journey of self-development. If you enjoyed this piece, stay tuned for parts II and III, Vortex of Wisdom and Agents of Abundance.

 

nim :)