Royal Awakening
- Artist
- John Speaker
- Location
- 129 East Princess Street, York, PA
Royal Awakening’s artist John Speaker thinks of this painting on two levels.
First, it points to the royal nature of cats.
“They have been revered as sacred by many cultures throughout millennia,” he explains. “And it’s pretty impossible to meet a cat that doesn’t fancy themself as the ruler of their domain. Often, we find ourselves playing by their rules whether we realize it or not.”
On another, he sees the piece as a mirror for the viewer.
“The open third eye begs the viewer to realize their own wisdom,” he says. “They are connected to reality on a much deeper level than we commonly experience in modern society.”
Speaker describes his time spent working on this piece, his first outdoor mural, as “an absolute blast.” A chance to be more “physical” with his art, outside of the studio.
“I loved spending long days outside working on an enveloping canvas, chatting with people passing by, and listening to the collective daily rhythm of the city,” he says. “Some days, you’re spending hours 30 feet above the ground working on a myriad of details — just completely lost in the process.”
When it was time to come down for a lunch break, he’d often be surprised when looked up to admire his work.
He’d find himself thinking that the whole wall was starting to come together and emanate palpable energy.
“The scale of the piece and the thrill of these periodic reveals stimulated tremendous happiness and drive in me every day,” Speaker says.
The Artist
John Speaker
John Speaker is a self-taught artist who creates wonderfully vibrant acrylic paintings. His work explores subjects like spirituality, nature, and human connection. While originally from central Pennsylvania, John spent almost a decade living in Colorado where he pursued his dream of creating art full-time. There, he created an empowering community of artists at ‘John Speaker Art Studio’ and amassed patrons across the world. He recently moved back to Central PA with his wife and son to be closer to family.
