Ophanim I

Ophanim I is the third of the Angelic Orders. I experimented with acrylic gloss for the first time, to give the translucent arms of the galactic rotation at the center, the black hole at the center of our galaxy, Sagittarius A. Everything about the painting is rotational, flying into and out of the center. The magenta wings are peregrine falcon wings, belonging to the fastest of all living creatures, folded in full stoop.

The bordering pattern is inspired by the wings of the Purple Emperor butterfly. The Ophanim had more 'anxiety of influence' on it than any other painting I have made, because of the ravishing computer models people have created of the Ophanim who appear in the Book of Ezekiel. The rotational portal/throne is a given with these wheels, yet I had to make him 'mine' ~ one day I was stroking one of the cats who was at the shelter, Kempe ~ I had Kempe in my lap and was bothering about in my mind about the painting when Kempe leapt into my mind 'butterfly wings' ~ with that imperial framework, everything came together after that and the image acquired its signature energy. Thank you Kempe <3 

The series will be available for purchase as a unity, all nine paintings, in 2026, after an exhibition in which they are all shown together.