When my kids were growing up, we spent a lot of time in a Dojo near our house practicing karate. One of the instructors was a young guy, and the time came that he left our community to further his education. I wanted to give him a gift to take with him, and began to look around for inspiration.
Nine Dragon Wall in the Forbidden City, Beijing, detail
I came across an image of dragons, glazed tile reliefs forming a wall in front of the Palace of Tranquil Longevity in Beijing's Forbidden City. Something about the dragons' spirit and playfulness caught my interest. Unlike Western fire-breathing, princess-snatching dragons, these serpentine creatures are powerful and benevolent, and associated with life-giving and sustaining water.
I had found my subject.
Water Dragons, ink and watercolor on paper, 8 1/2" x11"
I was happy but not satisfied with the watercolor. I wanted to emphasize everything about these dragons.
Fighting Water Dragons, charcoal on canvas, 48”x60
I moved from paper to canvas and scaled up the drawing to make room for crashing waves and clashing dragons.
Fighting Water Dragons, charcoal and oil paint on canvas, 48"x60", in process
Oil paint's thick, shiny, saturated nature served my vision better than watercolors.
Fighting Water Dragons, oil paint on canvas, 48”x60
I've always loved comics and graffiti. Fat shapes, sharp angles, clearly defined forms and vibrating colors clash, compete, and somehow come together in a powerful image. I found myself pushing the painting in that direction, adding a black outline to the forms.
The larger scale let me explore the idea of conflict and connection. The dragons are poised in a moment of confrontation and opposition, teeth and nails poised to shred, but the heart shapes formed where they come together signify love and a bond alongside the conflict.
I wanted to see how this idea would play out with other great beasts, and went on to explore the topic in a series that includes tigers, elephants, snakes, and alligators.
Tigers, oil paint on canvas, 42”x66”
