Crucis (SOLD)

“Crucis”

Triptych (2 attached, 24”x24” panels)

48”x24” (SOLD)

“Crusis” (Latin for Crucifixion)

This painting is another part of my “Altarpiece” series and is called “Crusis” which is Latin for Crucifixion.  It is a diptych (2 part) painting on gallery wrapped canvas and together, it measures 24” x 48”. Iconic art in the Greek and Russian Orthodox tradition is a strict discipline with a lot of rules and guidelines to follow.  My approach with this “Altarpiece” series is to defer to art history but to give a modern/today interpretation.  Many well know artists, Picasso, Dali, Chagall, rendered wildly interpretive religious works, so I am following suit with this series.

The painting has a few pages from an antique Latin Bible, published in 1632, incorporated into the piece, and it is difficult to see in the photo, but I used a lot of metallic paints—gold, silver, and copper, which give a significantly added dimension to the piece.

I have become increasingly interested in the spiral motif, which is found in almost all ancient cultures in their art and petroglyphs.  Within this painting are a lot of variations of spiral and labyrinth shapes and patterns.  I think it ties my work in a spiritual way to the ancients as well as to the foundation event of my faith and worldview.  For most of my art career, I have been influenced by two Austrian artists, Klimt and Hundertwasser, and if you are familiar with their work, you may recognize that in this painting.

It was meaningful to me to work on this, and I prayed the Holy Spirit would guide the directives, and ultimately the glory would be attributed to God.

There is much room for interpretation by the viewer as to the meaning and complex ambiguity in this work.