Mixed media on Canvas

This image is a purposeful throwback to the Pre-Raphaelite school of painting popularized in the mid-nineteenth century. The aim here, as then, is to recapture the beauty and simplicity of the natural world. The Pre-Raphaelites aimed to study nature, to sympathize with what is direct, serious and heartfelt in earlier art and literary works of theatrically romantic style. Marked by great beauty, an intricate realism, and a fondness for Arthurian and Greek legend, they infused their works with literary symbolism, bright colors, and attention to detail. The symbolism here is poignant as well. Faced with my own challenges stemming from a 2003 diagnosis of inoperable, “never-smokers” lung cancer, this work served as both inspiration and therapy while enduring the rigors of chemotherapy. The rose, with its unique combination of thorny stems and fragrant blossoms, has historically been used as metaphor for life: its beauty representing the perfection we should strive for, its thorns depicting the difficulties we all come against to achieve the perfection, the recurrent blooming showing us our efforts should be continuous, with the flower and mesmerizing fragrance confirming to us that we will in the end succeed. The glowing halo of light is my symbolism for the “shed a little light” on lung cancer education, fund-raising and research endeavors worldwide. It was also an ancient symbol of joy, and often associated with love, that is, to the eternal mystery of the continuity of life. As such it is a symbol of mystery and secrecy that dates back to the ancient Egyptians or Greeks, where initiates into the "mysteries", or pre-Christian religions, wore roses during ceremonies to indicate that they would keep inviolate any secrets that were passed on to them. In many countries it was customary to hang a rose over secret meetings or gatherings -- hence the term sub-rosa (literally "under the rose") to mean confidential. The use of the dragonfly’s wings is symbolic as well, borrowing from mythologies of various cultures worldwide, including Native American legend and lore. The dragonfly reminds us that ordinary physical reality isn't all that is available to us and that we can live in a world of magic. The iridescent wings reminds us of colors not found in our everyday experience. Shifting color, energy, form, and movement explodes into the mind of the observer, bringing vague memories of a time or place where magic reigned. The dragonfly is associated with the nature angels, devas, and faeries. When we've tricked ourselves into believing that the limitations of physical existence prevent us from changing and growing Dragonfly medicine teaches us to pierce our self-created illusions. It reminds us to let our colors shine by using the light within. Should a dragonfly cross your path it may be time reconnect with your elemental nature by going outdoors and finding the divine all around you.

Framed Size: 44" x 58"
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