Doves of Paradise

Acrylic on Canvas

2008

This piece was painted for my Grandma for her birthday.  My main inspiration was the sunsets and sunrises in Oswego, New York.  After living there for five years I found great joy in the beauty of the sun both rising and setting over Lake Ontario.  The most beautiful sunsets I had ever seen there are the ones with clouds covering the sky so it was important to include them.  At this time I also had an interest in the phoenix and it's regeneration.  I applied transparency of feathers to the birds wings with a white light cascading around and shining though.  The yellows and oranges being a vivacious flamelike shadow on the birds underbellies reflecting the concept of Phoenix.  The doves in this painting represent freedom, beauty, and eternal life.