Four Elements of the Soul
To begin with I didn’t realise who this painting was for. I had been asked to do a painting for a long time friend who was soon to move to another town, but I had actually forgotten. When I remembered, I was almost half way through this one, which I thought I was doing just for my own practice, then I realised it was for her all along. I am glad I had started it already so I was able to give it to her before she left. This painting took longer than usual as it was filled with detail. I drew it out initially with nothing in mind, and it grew almost like a diagram with four main sections. I realised that each part represented a different element. The Phoenix was fire, the mermaid/siren - water, Pan, the earth, and a fairie/nymph - air. The eight pointed star I felt was an amalgamation of these elements; the four elements over laping to form this shape representing oneness or unity. I later intuitively received the word 'Elemental' - which at the time I didn't even know w...