The Eternal Dance

Since the dawn of time art has always been a medium through which humans could  explore abstract concepts and emotions. A medium through which we attempt to understand the world around us. We see this from the earliest cave paintings all the way to the latest abstract art piece. One of my most cherished works, a painting of an Archaeopteryx Skeleton accompanied by three eggs, delves into the abstract concept of life and death. Originally created for a school project, this piece has grown to be a centerpiece of my portfolio, due to its symbolization of physical change and its potential in piquing the intellectual curiosity of its viewer. 

The inspiration for this painting came during a school assignment where we were tasked with creating a piece depicting an abstract concept for “The Downtown Doors” competition in the City of San Jose, California. The Archaeopteryx, often regarded as a prime example of the bridge between dinosaurs and modern day birds, seemed like the perfect symbolization of this concept. To me the painting stands as testament to the nature of existence, where the end of one journey is the beginning of another. The skeleton represents more than just death. It represents the continuity of life through the ages. The three eggs represent the cyclical nature of existence. Each egg represents birth, growth, and rebirth. 

Creating this painting was an intellectual and emotional journey. It prompted me to reflect on the cyclical nature of existence and the profound connections between life, death, and well-being. Through art, I sought to express the ineffable – the delicate interplay of forces that shape our mental and physical health. The Archaeopteryx skeleton and eggs become more than just representations of life and death; they embody the philosophical notion of eternal return, where each end is a new beginning, and every beginning carries the echoes of the past. This painting invites viewers to contemplate their own place within this cycle, encouraging a deeper understanding of the fragile yet resilient nature of life.

I have named this painting, The Eternal Dance. It stands as a testament to the transformative power of art. What began as a school project has become a profound exploration of the human condition, capturing the essence of life and death, mental and physical health. Through this work, I have discovered the limitless potential of art to convey complex and meaningful messages, touching the hearts and minds of those who engage with it.

The title The Eternal Dance is chosen for the reason that birth and death are nothing but essential ingredients of the Circle of Life, and they are as eternal as the life on this planet itself.

The painting itself has two “layers” to it. The first was to create the realistic 3D impression of the skeleton and the eggs. There are perhaps many ways of doing this, but the way I have chosen to do this is by using the All Purpose Joint Compound, which is cheap and freely available at any of the stores such as Home Depot. One needs to be careful by wearing gloves while using this compound, as it is mainly used in construction projects. Instead, one can always use some materials such as modeling pastes that are used in creating textures in acrylic paintings. Of course, palette knives come in handy, but there is nothing like our own hands (with gloves of course) while creating impressions such as the fossil bones and skeletons. You can see the result in the figure given here. Using palette knives also is very helpful in creating the textures for the background.

Picture 1: Surface of the canvas (18"x36") after the textured construction of the Archaeopteryx fossil and the eggs.

After a couple of layers of acrylic painting, and highlighting with the gold acrylic paint, here is the final version of the painting. It is Acrylic (and the texture) on Canvas, 18”x36” in size.

As I continue my artistic journey, I am committed to creating works that challenge perceptions and inspire introspection. My goal is to use art as a medium for exploring the deepest facets of existence, shedding light on the interconnectedness of all things. "The Eternal Dance" is but the beginning of this exploration, a glimpse into the boundless realms of creativity and understanding that lie ahead. 

Picture 2: The final product, after a coating of varnish.

I hope you enjoyed this blog. I am more than happy to hear your comments and suggestions on this painting, or the blog itself. This is Gautham Ramachandran. Thanks all for joining me and I am looking forward to more blogs in the future.