The Zodiac collection - Aries -Fire and Bone

This painting presents a striking and complex image of a young woman with fiery hair that explodes around her head like flames, signifying Aries’ passionate nature.  The intense colour palette and the dynamic brushstrokes further emphasise this sense of energy and passion.

The woman's expression is one of quiet contemplation, perhaps even a hint of melancholy. Her gaze is direct, engaging the viewer, but there's a subtle undercurrent of mortality, reinforced by the human skull she cradles gently in her hands.  The skull is rendered with a quiet dignity, almost as a memento mori, a reminder of life's transience.

The juxtaposition of the vibrant, life-affirming hair with the skeletal remains creates a powerful visual paradox. The intense beauty and fleeting nature of life against the inevitable reality of death.  The hand gently holding the skull suggests a tender understanding of the duality of human nature, a peaceful acceptance of the cycle of life and death  

The overall mood is introspective and thought-provoking.  The artist employs a masterful use of colour and texture to create a piece that is both visually arresting and emotionally resonant. The painting invites the viewer to contemplate the meaning of life and death, perhaps even to consider their own mortality and how they wish to live in the face of it.  “Fire and Bone” perfectly encapsulates a blend of passion, intensity, and contemplation of life's ephemeral nature.