New Painting: The Way of the Phoenix

Introducing:  “The Way of the Phoenix” – 24″ x 48″, acrylics & glass beads on canvas (SOLD)

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The Way of the Phoenix is about transformation, rebirth, mystery, and creativity. It’s also about taking leaps of faith to explore beyond our comfort zones in order to follow those strong inner calls of the soul. It asks us to let go of all that no longer serves us in order to be reborn in the flight of Love and Light. 

Actually, this isn’t a new new painting.  I finished it in November, but had to keep it offline as a condition for submitting it to a province-wide competition.  Alas, it and 96 other entries didn’t make it to the final round. That’s simply not where it was meant to be. No worries – it means that I can finally reveal it to you now.

The Fire in my Life:

I have long identified with the Phoenix as a symbol of transformation – I’ve painted a few in my time…  I also discovered along the way that it’s one of the symbols for my western astrological sign: Scorpio (the only sign represented by more than one creature: serpent, scorpion, eagle, and phoenix).  As Lynn Hayes explains,

At the end of its life it built a funeral pyre and burned in the flames, only to regenerate its progeny from those very flames. The Scorpio nature cannot run from the destruction of the fire of its emotional intensity, but within that fire is the secret of immortality and resurrection. Scorpio is a water sign but Mars bestows the essence of fire as well and with it the courage to enter the fire and become transformed.

Paired with being a Fire Horse in Chinese astrology, there’s simply a lot of fire in me.  It’s what you would call a recurring theme…

If you recall my writings from Bali, my skin issues (eczema) stem from having an excess of fire in my system (as told by a traditional Balinese medicine man, an Ayurveda doctor, and traditional Chinese doctor). The first medicine man told me I had to find ways to be even more creative, so that the fire doesn’t consume me. I’m working on it! Come to think of it, a spiritual advisor told me more than a decade ago that I had a volcano inside that simply needed to erupt, and that if I healed my skin in one area, it would simply find another exit.  I needed to go deep and deal with the fire at the core.  Still working on that too!

Although I don’t recall exactly why, I strongly identified with the story of Joan of Arc growing up (represented in one of my early paintings). Later, through past life regressions, I connected with several lifetimes in which I met my physical end through fire. When I let go of the drama of the details in those stories, I was left with an understanding of the power of detachment and rebirth.

As Dominique Hurley in this lifetime, the way of the phoenix has materialized as distinct chapters marked by various geographical locations, personal circumstances, and careers – yet with a strong underlying storyline of learning to be True to Who I AM. My life seems to be one of constant transformation – as they say, there’s nothing constant in life but change itself.

I do not fear the fire – it is my teacher, my rite of passage, my gateway to freedom.  I am still learning, however, to release it from my being through self-love and self-expression. As I continue to follow The Way of the Phoenix, I will continue to rise above the complex patterns of human behaviour to a state of higher consciousness and pure unconditional love – in this lifetime or beyond.

Do you relate to anything in that story or in this painting?

THE MAKING OF:

The underlying layers of fire were created through a very watery process. 🙂 Yes, we live in a world of contradictions.

I then used stencils that I made to create the face and figure out of glass bead gel.  In terms of spiritual meaning, glass represents truth or transparency. It’s the passage/barrier between the physical and spiritual realms.  It also carries the energies of transformation, rebirth, focus and communication.  I love glass bead gel (which is white when applied, but dries transparent) because in certain lights and at certain angles, it reflects in a most magical way that my final photos simply can’t show.

I then used tar gel in a squeeze bottle to design the phoenix and the flames. I wanted these to be raised and filled with the fire patterns from the first layers.

Once these were dry, I applied several layers of purple and violet glazes around the raised elements.  These layers are not completely opaque as I wanted the spirit of fire to show through, unifying the whole.

I then had hours and hours of fun with a tiny paintbrush applying the patterns that make up our lives and environment.

I then glazed these in magentas and violet to push them back into the background – representing the fact that not all of our patterns are seen or clear. They also represent the mysteries of life.

Once that was dry, I used a fan brush to add wisps of colour in the wings and tail – these are in an interference paint that can only be seen at some angles and in certain lights. This means that the painting appears quite different at different times of day.  Here it is in low lighting.

Here are a few more detail shots of the final piece.

Both creating and beholding this painting have been powerful experiences for me – does it also speak to you?  Feel free to explain why in the comments below.

“The Way of the Phoenix” – 24″ x 48″, acrylics & glass beads on canvas (SOLD).

Go to my shop to see all available paintings & reproductions.