Here is a studio shot of this series in progress (among other paintings I worked on simultaneously) Despite the sloppy presentation, this photograph has a special place in my heart. It brings me back to a very painful and transformative chapter of my life. I love the raw energy of this moment in time I was able to capture. When life gets tough, I know I can always find peace by escaping into a new world inside of my art.
“Enchantress” A glance withinHave you ever smiled through the pain?
Been embarrassed to cry? Pretended to be someone else? What are you hiding? You are not alone… |
“Enchantress” CollectionHistory shows that mankind has always been fascinated by the feminine Devine. In my series, I flip the script and force the viewer to look past the glorious facade of external beauty. Framed in elegance and staring fiercely outward, these “enchantresses” are hiding a dark secret within. I urge you to look away from the eyes so you can really see past them and into the soul of these works. Join me on a journey inside the emotions often hidden behind the veil of the fairy tale femme fatale.
The Full SeriesThis series was started in 2023 and completed in 2024.
The collection includes 5 paintings; 24 x 36 Oil on Canvas Behind the Process-
|
Take a Journey |
I urge you to look away from the eyes. I know that they are pulling you in, but trust me, don’t look at them just yet. Let them gaze at you, but do not look back. I want you to take a journey through the beauty of all that surrounds these eyes. First explore and appreciate the rolling arcs and smooth curves of the ornamental framework and wrought iron architecture. Let your eyes travel through the timeless gothic windows and imagine a portal through time and space. Ride the waves of hair and brush up against the smooth skin. For each painting, try and connect with “her” as though you are standing face to face. She draws you in. Imagine her moist plump lips against your own. Does she want this connection or is she reluctantly accepting your touch as to not disappoint? Now feel the cool shadows surrounding her eyes which are masked behind layers of cosmetic defense. Painted armor shielding against others being able to easily catch a glimpse into the fragility and despair she wishes would just go away. A splinter of light warms the faces sparingly. Illuminating highlights from the sun shine down on these women who are living in darkness. Only now do I want you to look at the eyes.
Now what do you feel? |
Be Enchanted |
Explore each painting with patience and discover more than meets the eye.
|
“Turn the Blind Eye”
This is the first painting I started for the “Enchantress” series. The collection is reminiscent of some of my past works. I felt like revisiting the theme of lady faces surrounded by stone carved filigree and gothic architecture to create an environment of elegance and wonder. The smooth arks and intense stares were what drove me to continue creating paintings of this subject matter.
This collection expresses many complex emotions that can be hidden behind the perceived beauty of the female form.
I created unique narratives for each of the figures.
“Such a beautiful face’, one may say, “but what is she thinking?”
It is left for the viewer to interperet:
What’s really going on behind those eyes?
Emptiness was what came to mind during the designing process for this piece. I chose to leave the eyes empty so the viewer can perceive whatever emotion they feel looking at her. I have done some tattoos with the eyes like this and feel like it gives any face a haunting feeling. My typical design process is creating digital mock ups using photo references to build a collage of images. It helps me to have a clear starting point, but I always leave myself a little wiggle room for adjustments. I like to “let the canvas tell me what to do.”
The face I chose was meant to have a youthful charm and a mildly sinister smile. With one side of the lips pointed up ever so lightly with a smirk.
What tricks does she have up her sleeve?
This is the first painting I started for the “Enchantress” series. The collection is reminiscent of some of my past works. I felt like revisiting the theme of lady faces surrounded by stone carved filigree and gothic architecture to create an environment of elegance and wonder. The smooth arks and intense stares were what drove me to continue creating paintings of this subject matter.
This collection expresses many complex emotions that can be hidden behind the perceived beauty of the female form.
I created unique narratives for each of the figures.
“Such a beautiful face’, one may say, “but what is she thinking?”
It is left for the viewer to interperet:
What’s really going on behind those eyes?
Emptiness was what came to mind during the designing process for this piece. I chose to leave the eyes empty so the viewer can perceive whatever emotion they feel looking at her. I have done some tattoos with the eyes like this and feel like it gives any face a haunting feeling. My typical design process is creating digital mock ups using photo references to build a collage of images. It helps me to have a clear starting point, but I always leave myself a little wiggle room for adjustments. I like to “let the canvas tell me what to do.”
The face I chose was meant to have a youthful charm and a mildly sinister smile. With one side of the lips pointed up ever so lightly with a smirk.
What tricks does she have up her sleeve?
“Anticipation”
Sometimes the toughest part of the journey is the anticipation. One example that holds true to this idea from my personal experience, is jumping out of a plane. I’ve been skydiving a few times and it is truly an amazing experience that takes me through a rollercoaster of emotions. The moment you begin free fall and reach terminal velocity, there is a sense of peace and freedom, however, the ride up there is terrifying for me. I believe that we all can relate to the internalized terrors of waiting…
-waiting for the right moment to say how you feel to someone you care about.
-waiting for the perfect conditions to paddle out and ride that wave of a lifetime.
-waiting for your opportunity to show your boss how valuable you are to the company.
-waiting to feel like you have a purpose.
-waiting to feel loved.
It can often be a hellish experience when you’re trapped within the confines of your own mind, anticipating what’s to come next. Compulsively creating scenarios in your head, playing on repeat, worrying about tomorrow…
…forgetting to live for today.
Sometimes the toughest part of the journey is the anticipation. One example that holds true to this idea from my personal experience, is jumping out of a plane. I’ve been skydiving a few times and it is truly an amazing experience that takes me through a rollercoaster of emotions. The moment you begin free fall and reach terminal velocity, there is a sense of peace and freedom, however, the ride up there is terrifying for me. I believe that we all can relate to the internalized terrors of waiting…
-waiting for the right moment to say how you feel to someone you care about.
-waiting for the perfect conditions to paddle out and ride that wave of a lifetime.
-waiting for your opportunity to show your boss how valuable you are to the company.
-waiting to feel like you have a purpose.
-waiting to feel loved.
It can often be a hellish experience when you’re trapped within the confines of your own mind, anticipating what’s to come next. Compulsively creating scenarios in your head, playing on repeat, worrying about tomorrow…
…forgetting to live for today.
“Introspection”
This particular painting went through some drastic changes through its development. Originally designed with a completely different face, I felt it was missing an emotional connection so I chose to change things up midway through working on this canvas. Although I had the intention of using stone carved filigree to frame the women of this series, I was offered a suggestion from professor Robert Sanchez. He had given me a book that was a history of and encyclopedia of wrought iron in architecture. I used it as inspiration and chose to incorporate the design work in this painting.
I was able to decode some symbolism behind the wrought iron - signifying malleability since cast iron is brittle and easy to break under pressure. I see this woman to be trapped behind the framework; symbolizing societal expectations and objectification of her beauty. A distant, empty gaze may leave the viewer with many questions, because you will never know what is hidden behind the veil of these eyes.
Subconscious direction pushed me to paint this face in a way that she ended up in the likeness of a woman I once held very dear to my heart, yet is no longer a part of my life. I suppose this painting forced me to look inside myself and sit in some unwanted emotions I had previously chosen to overlook.
Why is it that we find comfort in running away from our feelings in an unhealthy attempt at avoiding pain, only perpetuating our suffering?
What pain are you hiding from?
This particular painting went through some drastic changes through its development. Originally designed with a completely different face, I felt it was missing an emotional connection so I chose to change things up midway through working on this canvas. Although I had the intention of using stone carved filigree to frame the women of this series, I was offered a suggestion from professor Robert Sanchez. He had given me a book that was a history of and encyclopedia of wrought iron in architecture. I used it as inspiration and chose to incorporate the design work in this painting.
I was able to decode some symbolism behind the wrought iron - signifying malleability since cast iron is brittle and easy to break under pressure. I see this woman to be trapped behind the framework; symbolizing societal expectations and objectification of her beauty. A distant, empty gaze may leave the viewer with many questions, because you will never know what is hidden behind the veil of these eyes.
Subconscious direction pushed me to paint this face in a way that she ended up in the likeness of a woman I once held very dear to my heart, yet is no longer a part of my life. I suppose this painting forced me to look inside myself and sit in some unwanted emotions I had previously chosen to overlook.
Why is it that we find comfort in running away from our feelings in an unhealthy attempt at avoiding pain, only perpetuating our suffering?
What pain are you hiding from?
“Transcendence”
After exploring the curves and heavy contrast of the wrought iron elements in my last canvas, I had some fun ideas for this piece. I wanted this woman and the painting as a whole, to have an elegant feel. I always enjoy the dark sunken shapes created when using gothic windows for background to my lady faces, and also used quite a bit of ornamental filigree for this design. I created a headpiece which may be interpreted as a tiara or crown for this young lady to wear as she stares off into the distance, leaving the viewer wondering, “What’s on her mind?”
Essentially, this has been the theme for the entire series, and I have made it a point to create unique eyes for each of my ladies. I wanted a glassy look for her eyes and chose a more youthful woman to lend to the narrative. It wasn’t until after completing the painting, did I begin to feel a story unraveling before my eyes.
Young and innocent, this little princess has been granted a life of luxury and elegance. Born into glamour and opulence, one may look at her as very fortunate. Some may look at her as an entitled little brat, and shame her out of jealousy of her wealth and power. Other girls her age might make fun of her or avoid interacting with her because of he alleged “status.”
Whatever she was born into, or whatever anyone was born into for that matter, is beyond their control. Yes, it is tough for those who are stricken with poverty, but there are many issues that are faced by young people coming of age who have been born into wealth and royalty. There is a whole rarely spoken set of issues based on societal expectations and a life under constant scrutiny. Born with “everything”, but wishing she just had a “normal” childhood… walking on egg shells through what were meant to be some of the most carefree years of her life.
This canvas illustrates the moment this young girl relives her painfully choreographed “perfect” childhood in her mind. Flashes of designer clothes and luxury vehicles are shadowed by demanding scripted puppeteers choking every ounce of true joy out of her lifeless, glamorous childhood. Drowned in militant orders and always hiding behind a fake smile, here she is pictured transcending beyond the facade of the fairy tale her life is. It’s time now for her to find her true self.
After exploring the curves and heavy contrast of the wrought iron elements in my last canvas, I had some fun ideas for this piece. I wanted this woman and the painting as a whole, to have an elegant feel. I always enjoy the dark sunken shapes created when using gothic windows for background to my lady faces, and also used quite a bit of ornamental filigree for this design. I created a headpiece which may be interpreted as a tiara or crown for this young lady to wear as she stares off into the distance, leaving the viewer wondering, “What’s on her mind?”
Essentially, this has been the theme for the entire series, and I have made it a point to create unique eyes for each of my ladies. I wanted a glassy look for her eyes and chose a more youthful woman to lend to the narrative. It wasn’t until after completing the painting, did I begin to feel a story unraveling before my eyes.
Young and innocent, this little princess has been granted a life of luxury and elegance. Born into glamour and opulence, one may look at her as very fortunate. Some may look at her as an entitled little brat, and shame her out of jealousy of her wealth and power. Other girls her age might make fun of her or avoid interacting with her because of he alleged “status.”
Whatever she was born into, or whatever anyone was born into for that matter, is beyond their control. Yes, it is tough for those who are stricken with poverty, but there are many issues that are faced by young people coming of age who have been born into wealth and royalty. There is a whole rarely spoken set of issues based on societal expectations and a life under constant scrutiny. Born with “everything”, but wishing she just had a “normal” childhood… walking on egg shells through what were meant to be some of the most carefree years of her life.
This canvas illustrates the moment this young girl relives her painfully choreographed “perfect” childhood in her mind. Flashes of designer clothes and luxury vehicles are shadowed by demanding scripted puppeteers choking every ounce of true joy out of her lifeless, glamorous childhood. Drowned in militant orders and always hiding behind a fake smile, here she is pictured transcending beyond the facade of the fairy tale her life is. It’s time now for her to find her true self.
“Retrospective Reflection”
The fifth and final canvas of the “Enchantress” series incorporates my personal favorite piece of ornamental framework. I was able to reference wrought iron architectural elements that flow playfully around this woman’s face with the same elegance of the stone carved filigree of previous pieces I have done. The gothic windows in the background provided me an opportunity to create varied depths and lighting angles adding a dynamic range of perspectives.
Before I get too excited and lose you in Art nerd technical design jargon, let’s move onto a more exciting subject, let’s talk about death. Sorry if I blindsided you with that transition when you may have expected something a little less depressing, but death is a huge part of life and often overlooked and rarely celebrated. Having to lose my mother in the middle of painting this series was the greatest lesson on mortality I could have ever received. I wasn’t able to ask her any questions when her health took an e
unexpected turn for the worst. I couldn’t hear about her favorite moments alive or her biggest regrets in life. I didn’t have an opportunity to ask her for one last sprinkle of wisdom but I felt the answers to so many questions I had about life were answered along the way.
We all have just this one opportunity to exist in this world. We are not in control of the cards we are dealt, but it’s up to us to play the hand the best we can.
When it’s time to move on past the human form, modern science may never fully understand the place our thoughts and our Consciousnesses and our spirits may go.
Look at this woman and picture someone you love or picture yourself. Look at this painting as if a photo was just snapped at the last few seconds of this woman’s life. This is a moment in time capturing her retrospective reflection of every moment she had ever experienced from life to death. Now understand that you have the power to change the trajectory of your life as long as you believe in yourself. Now think to yourself what is really going to matter in that final moment. Is it going to be the money and the cars and the parties and the status? Maybe. That’s a fulfilling life for some. Is it love and connection and time spent with family that really matters to you? Were you able to leave your mark on this world and inspire others for generations to come? We all have a purpose and it’s up to the individual to live a life of fulfillment. I just hope that reading this can put things into perspective for anyone who may be unsure as to if they could die tomorrow and be happy with what they’ve done with their life. It’s hard to convey thoughts and emotions of this depth in a way that can have a positive and lasting impact, but sometimes life needs to really smack you in the face to make you consider how you’ll feel when the moment comes for you. We are all in control of shaping our retrospective reflections.
The fifth and final canvas of the “Enchantress” series incorporates my personal favorite piece of ornamental framework. I was able to reference wrought iron architectural elements that flow playfully around this woman’s face with the same elegance of the stone carved filigree of previous pieces I have done. The gothic windows in the background provided me an opportunity to create varied depths and lighting angles adding a dynamic range of perspectives.
Before I get too excited and lose you in Art nerd technical design jargon, let’s move onto a more exciting subject, let’s talk about death. Sorry if I blindsided you with that transition when you may have expected something a little less depressing, but death is a huge part of life and often overlooked and rarely celebrated. Having to lose my mother in the middle of painting this series was the greatest lesson on mortality I could have ever received. I wasn’t able to ask her any questions when her health took an e
unexpected turn for the worst. I couldn’t hear about her favorite moments alive or her biggest regrets in life. I didn’t have an opportunity to ask her for one last sprinkle of wisdom but I felt the answers to so many questions I had about life were answered along the way.
We all have just this one opportunity to exist in this world. We are not in control of the cards we are dealt, but it’s up to us to play the hand the best we can.
When it’s time to move on past the human form, modern science may never fully understand the place our thoughts and our Consciousnesses and our spirits may go.
Look at this woman and picture someone you love or picture yourself. Look at this painting as if a photo was just snapped at the last few seconds of this woman’s life. This is a moment in time capturing her retrospective reflection of every moment she had ever experienced from life to death. Now understand that you have the power to change the trajectory of your life as long as you believe in yourself. Now think to yourself what is really going to matter in that final moment. Is it going to be the money and the cars and the parties and the status? Maybe. That’s a fulfilling life for some. Is it love and connection and time spent with family that really matters to you? Were you able to leave your mark on this world and inspire others for generations to come? We all have a purpose and it’s up to the individual to live a life of fulfillment. I just hope that reading this can put things into perspective for anyone who may be unsure as to if they could die tomorrow and be happy with what they’ve done with their life. It’s hard to convey thoughts and emotions of this depth in a way that can have a positive and lasting impact, but sometimes life needs to really smack you in the face to make you consider how you’ll feel when the moment comes for you. We are all in control of shaping our retrospective reflections.