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Sunday, November 4, 2012

Behind the scenes: "Polaris" painting by Angie Bray-Widner 2012





“Polaris” - 2012 - 36"x36" acrylic on canvas (gallery-wrapped with image continued on sides).  Original and prints available for sale.


Behind the scenes: 
Based on a vivid dream the artist had, two bears of earth (polar bears) and sky (Ursa Major and Minor) proceed through the symbols of ages.  An under-painting deliberately partially exposed is included with many symbols (painting to the left).  
In the foreground, two polar bears walk on a flower-of-life web of snow bathed in the spectral light of an aurora borealis star-filled sky.  The forest edging behind the bears reaches into the sky like cathedral spires.  The North Star (Polaris) plays a central role around the highlighted constellations of Ursa Major (Big Dipper or bear), Ursa Minor (Little Dipper or bear), Draco (the dragon), Cassiopeia, and others.  Two rose windows of the Chartres Cathedral under-painting described below appear as medallions on at the polar bears throats and hind flanks.  The geometric Kabbalah Tree of Life appears under the mouth of the polar bears.  The bears stand on an image taken from an engraving of the Tree of Life on Urantian bronze helmet from 13th-6th century BCE.


During the dream, the artist's dream character spoke with one of her mentor-guides as her dream-self painted an under-painting of a cathedral skyline in fucshia.  The first progress snapshot above shows the details of the Chartres Cathedral used to represent to the dreams guidance.  The second progress shot to the left shows the cathedral spires transforming into tall pine trees.  The first shot also shows the initial layout of the constellations centered around Polaris (the North Star), while the third progress shot highlights the constellations before refinement of the polar bears was completed.  The final painting appears as the first photo above.

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