Medusa, Gorgon Goddess | Pastel | 16” x 20” | $2500

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Medusa, Gorgon Goddess

Pastel, 16” x 20”, 2002 $2500
medusa
I was inspired to draw a picture of the Grecian goddess Medusa after seeing Caravaggio’s painting of Medusa’s severed head, and after reading the eco-feminist work “Gossips, Gorgons, and Crones: The Fates of the Earth” by Jane Caputi. I wished to create a pre-Hellenistic depiction of Medusa as protector of female sacred space and goddess of wisdom. In pre-Hellenistic Greece, the image of Medusa (or a gorgon in general) adorned women’s temples, as a sign that these spaces were reserved purely for the ladies, and celebrated female wisdom. Prior to patriarchal Hellenistic Greece, Medusa was considered one with Athena, Isis, Inana, and Ishtar, and was a representation of female wisdom and strength.

I was also inspired by the study of Kundalini meditation and the chakras. Kundalini energy is often described as the serpent coiling within the spine. The serpents in this painting and their coloration correspond to the chakras, particularly the lilac-burgundy colored serpent that is at the crown of the head, as the crown chakra is sometimes portrayed as purple. I was also influenced by the science-fiction movie “The Matrix” with the idea of the electric tube like cords plugged into the spine and skull – here transformed to represent the cosmic “plugging in” to the chakras and universal consciousness/wisdom.

Portrait of Renaissance Lady | Oil on canvas | 16” x 20” | Collection of the artist

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Portrait of Renaissance Lady

Oil on canvas, 16” x 20”, 1993 Collection of the artist
renaissance-lady
This was the first painting that I ever did, and was inspired by my love of Renaissance portraiture, especially the work of Da Vinci, Rafael, and Botticelli. I later saw the beautiful oil painting, Girl with Cherries, by Italian High Renaissance Painter Giovanni Antonio Boltraffio, and was struck by how similar it was to my vision. I used a Pthalo green underpainting and glazed warm colors over it, to achieve the luminous quality of classical Renaissance technique. I wished to express power and wisdom through the lady’s eyes, and I believe my perseverance and determination in creating this painting, in the end, is reflected in her aspect and her stare.

Nana: Portrait of the Artist’s Great-Grandmother as a Little Girl | Oil on Canvas | 16” x 20” oval | $250

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Nana: Portrait of the Artist’s
Great-Grandmother as a Little Girl

Oil on Canvas, 16” x 20” oval, 2008 $250
nana
This painting was done from a photo of my great-grandmother, Louise Rosa, when she was a small child, about 2 years old, I believe. It is done in a sepia tone to give it a feeling of warmth and nostalgia, to reflect how I feel when I think about my nana. My great-grandmother was a warm, kind, jolly and caring woman who doted on me as a small child, and to whom I have been told I gave great laughter and delight. I like to think that her spirit has often been with me and watched over me, and guiding me even as I painted this portrait of her.

Study for Archangel Uriel | Graphite on paper | 11” x 14” | $1000

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Study for Archangel Uriel

Graphite on paper, 11” x 14”, 2000 $1000
study-for-uriel
This study was the careful prepatory drawing, or cartoon, that is always needed when creating a fresco, as fresco is done alla prima, or in one sitting while the plaster is still wet and fresh. So it is a good idea to have a thorough familiarity with one’s subject matter, to have lovingly traced the sweet lines of the face and to know them, as they say, by heart. Uriel is all heart, and for me a very tender and sensitive being, whose expression communicates understanding as much as it does mystery.

This work is done with simple graphite pencil on vellum paper, with lots of cross hatch work to create deep, rich shadows for the chiaroscuro effect, or contrast of light and dark,to set off the cheekbones and lend depth to the eyes. I really enjoyed creating this sketch and it prepared me for the creation of the final work.

For more information on Uriel himself and the background of this artwork, please see the blog post on Archangel Uriel.