Chernabog's Star

Oil on Canvas

2006

This painting was an assignment for Painting I at SUNY Oswego.  Our assignment was to combine a classic image with any piece of current art.  The two I chose were Edgar Degas "Star Dancer" with Walt Disney's Chernabog from Night on Bald Mountain of Fantasia.  The Dancer's head is replaced by the head of one of the nymphs which he controls in the move, which she is also surrounded by.  Chernabog is poised over her, placed in connection with the mysterious man in the background, controlling her dancing, outfitted in the same style he is.  I loved the strokes and colors of Degas image and wanted to try to replicate these with paint, and the motion of the dancers body is beautifully captured.  Fantasia is a movie that has stayed with me my entire life, I have always loved the combination of music and art, and the concept of continuing this in a series even though Disney never lived to see this carried out.  I chose these two to combine because they were a great match up for concept.