This small gouache painting was an experiment with subject-ground relationship and overlapping transparency. The main subject – the woman in profile – is actually a negative space – she’s just the medium-tone brown paper showing through. The dark brown background that defines her is painted in flat color. The serpent that twines around her is transformed wherever it passes through her body, mixing with her brown color. She, too, is transformed by the snake as the two of them intertwine.
I wanted this to be a visual interaction of pure, primal energy. She is in the shape of a swastika, with her four limbs forming a sort of clockwise mandala. The serpent surrounds her and weaves its way through her, like a thread in a tapestry. Its patterns are rhythmic, like the pulsing energy of African rhythm that I’ve always loved. The influence of African art is also evident in the style of this painting – flat, bold, and graphic, like much of my work from this time period. But not too long after, my art began to evolve in new directions as new influences came into my life.
It’s a simple little painting – I probably did this in one sitting. You could almost call it a fancy doodle. It’s good to explore little ideas like this. Of course, they can grow into big ideas – this one could be a much more elaborate human-animal interaction, with other polarities explored and accentuated, such as scales and flesh, or angles and curves. Just thinking about it makes me want to do a new version. I love how one idea gives birth to another!
The Serpent’s Path is for sale, assuming I can find the original among my stacks of works on paper. Please inquire for more information if you’re interested.
A good week to all!
D. Yael Bernhard
https://dyaelbernhard.com
Have you seen my other Substack, The Art of Health? In addition to being a visual artist, I’m also a certified integrative health & nutrition coach with a lifelong passion for natural food cooking and herbal medicine. Now in its second year, this illustrated newsletter explores cutting-edge concepts of nutrition. I strive to make relevant information clear and accessible, and to anchor essential health concepts in unique images. Check it out, and if you like it, please subscribe and help spread the word. Your support keeps my work going!
This one has caught my attention. I feel drawn to it. I hope you consider creating more within this theme!
Beautiful and fascinating. I like how the woman and the serpent' head are facing each other at the top left.