The Alchemy series of monoprints is based on images from the Rosarium Philosophorium, a 15th century German manuscript illustrating the Magnum Opus / Great Work of Life.
Magnum Opus is Latin for great work. This series is about creative transformation, discovery, growth and understanding of the great work of the life through art. Art and alchemy are two parts of the whole. Both the artist and the alchemist take materials and transform them into something other than the original substance. As a printmaker, I take ideas, experiences and skills to create a work using ink, watercolor and paper. I research and use universal symbolic images based on the goddess from many cultures of the world in order to tell herstory and mine. The process ultimately is aimed at understanding myself and the world.
The series begins with Self Portrait: Artist / Alchemist. I stand in my New Balance running shoes on a fire breathing dragon crouched on a winged world. I hold a brush in my left hand and a book in the right since I use both in my creative work. The two heads are the masculine / feminine sides of myself. I focus on the Mirror Gateway, the feminine generative source of all creativity, opening into the process.
 The Alchemist |
 Mirror Gateway
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 Meeting of King & Queen |
 Letting go of Personas |
 Sacred Container |
Meeting of the Lunar Queen and the Solar King shows the outer appearances, defenses and personae of all humans. A commitment to change is symbolized by joining hands under a winged dove of the spirit.
Naked Truth of Royal Love disrobes the appearances, defenses and personae to get to the inner core of spiritual growth. The crossed lilies extend roots.
The Royal Well of Birth / Death / Transformation is where the feminine masculine partners immerse in a safe vessel temenos space like art or therapy. The winged dove protects the process. The partners can be any outer or inner form the "other" takes for you. It is in relationship that all energies are constantly transforming.
Conunctio is the psychosexual union of the coming together of opposites, joining the energies which results in Royal Spirits Soaring.
In Nigredo / Death / Letting Go, an androgynous being is formed from the opposites which results in death to the former separated beings. The spirit soul ascends to higher, greater consciousness. Commitment to the process is critical. In love and psychological growth, the key is the ability to endure the tension of the opposites without abandoning the process, even if the process and its result appear to be for naught. Trust the process is the mantra.
 Conunctio |
 Transformation
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 Death |
Jubilee of the Soul, brings the dawn of new consciousness when the departed soul returns and greening occurs and brings life to a new being, awareness.
The Noble Empress: Lunar Rebirth and Transformation shows the transformed androgynous lovers standing as a tree of life, recognizing the strengths of opposites, and creating a stronger whole which grows in consciousness and understanding.
 Greening / Rebirth |
 Noble Empress
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