The lion is called the king of the beast, and the eagle was equally regarded as king of all the birds. As the griffin embodies characteristics of both lion and eagle, he is the monarch of both the heavens and the earth. Although most often seen and associated with mediaeval heraldry, representations of griffins date back thousands of years, as early as ancient Sumeria.

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Size: 2.75″ x 2.75″
Mixed media: oil, paper, ink, varnish, resin on canvas.

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In alchemy, the mercurial red dragon personifies the chaotic nature of the Prima Materia, which transforms in the Philosopher’s Stone of the Great Work. This dragon sits astride a globe which may symbolize the electromagnetic energies of the planet. Invisible, fluid, yet potent, they are sometimes known as ley lines or dragon lines. These energies show themselves as auroras.

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Size: 3.5″ x 2.5″
Mixed media: oil, paper, ink, varnish, gold pigment, resin on canvas.

Dragonflies in flight are a wonderful sight to behold. Large, iridescent bi-winged creatures zooming and weaving as if playfully. They begin their lives as nymphs, aggressive aquatic predators that can remain in that stage as long as five years. By contrast, the adult stage we all know as the dragonfly proper is only the briefest part of its lifespan, at most a few months.

In much European folklore the dragonfly usually has sinister significance, associating them with devils or fairy mischief, an example of which is the English nickname of “the Devil’s darning needle.” By contrast they are held to be auspicious by many Native American tribes, symbolizing swiftness, renewal, purity. In some other parts of the world it is held to be a sign of good luck if a dragonfly lands on you. The japanese hold the dragonfly as a symbol of courage and happiness and often feature then in haikus.

Size: 2.25″ x 2.5:
Mixed media: oil, paper, ink, varnish, gold pigment, resin on canvas.

A symbol that appears frequently in the emblematic illustrations of alchemy is the Green Lion. Typically he is shown grasping and devouring the sun. In metallurgic alchemy, the meaning of this is the power of sulphuric acid to dissolve all metals such as iron, copper, and even gold, the king of the metals (represented by the sun).

In organic alchemy, the alchemy of potions, the green lion stands for chlorophyll, made by plants “eating” sunlight. Modern interpretations of the “inner path” of alchemy see the green lion as a symbol of the way consciousness can be overwhelmed when bottled-up, intense emotions (the passions) are finally released. Have you ever loved something or somebody so much you wanted (perhaps irrationally) to simply devour them?

Size: 3.5″ x 2.5″
Mixed media: oil, paper, ink, varnish, gold pigment on canvas.

Taurus, the bull, is an earth sign associated with Venus. Tauruses are earthy, pragmatic, seekers of comfort. They have a sensual side, and a powerful desire for both security and appreciation from others. Tauruses also have a strong sense of fairness and a love of animals. The constellation of Taurus is in the Northern hemisphere between Aries and Gemini.

Size: 2″ x 2″
Mixed media: oil, paper, ink, varnish, and gold pigment on canvas.

In 79 AD, the Roman city of Pompeii was completely buried in ash by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, then forgotten until it was rediscovered in the mid-18th Century. Many of its citizens attempted to flee but few made it.

This image is a fanciful telling of a fugitive from Pompeii who dove into the sea and was changed by Neptune into an octopus. He now drifts in the depths, dreaming of his former life.

Size: 2.5″ x 3.5″
Mixed media: oil, paper, and varnish on canvas.

There is no ink on this one…unless he squirts you.