20 - I love a good riddle said the donkey

I finished painting the above painting on 20th Nov 2025 and prior to finishing it I had been watching a lot of art history on Youtube.

As I was making the final touches I noticed a face hiding in the background. It seemed to be wearing a mask.

I went down a rabbit hole looking up the symbolism of the donkey and the Venetian mask. You can take on board whichever one speaks to you most.

What resonated with me given the painting has a face hidden behind a Venetian mask in the top right hand corner, the word love on the center left and a donkey like shape at the bottom, is that when the donkey appears as a spirit animal in your life, it may be a sign to embrace humility and to find strength in simplicity.

Maybe I am being called to shed any disguise. Historically ‘The mask’ could be a form of humiliation. There are so many interpretations of the donkey and the mask.

Or, it could simply mean a costume for role playing where the mask is a fun craft item.

I always like to think there is a deeper meaning to why I subconsciously paint what I paint.