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Burning Wolf
Acrylic
I use animals as visual metaphors for my ideas. In this particular painting, the wolf is standing in front of a flowing lava lake. While the wolf can be seen as menacing, the lava is more so. The concept is that nature always wins. The powerful underground forces of moving volcanic plates and fault lines can overpower any animal, no matter how ferocious. I've always been struck by the force of nature: buildings being torn down by vines that overtake them after only a year or two of neglect or a beach being eroded in one strong storm, no matter how many times we replace the sand. "Burning Wolf" addresses the importance of keeping things in perspective. The big picture matters, I think, and should inform our behavior and decisions. Formally, I juxtaposed the lava's orange yellows with the Prussian blue sky. The texture of the wolf's fur and the yellow of the staring eyes contrast with the background colors. Since it's a large piece, the scale also adds to the impact.
--Julia Healy