Beautiful Nightmare is the second work in my Artists and Animals series, which pairs human subjects with animals chosen for their symbolism and emotional resonance.
The figure is Italian artist and model Emilia Zabberoni, painted with her permission from a photograph by portrait photographer Simona Buccolieri, also used with permission. I was initially drawn to the intensity of the original image: Emilia crouched in a shower, with an expression that suggested pain and vulnerability.
In the painting, I removed the original water setting and shifted the palette from green into deep purples. Tarantulas crawl across the figure's head and body, transforming the scene into something darker and more surreal. Beauty and discomfort sit deliberately alongside one another.
Metallic gold across the skin and mica on the lips catch the light as you move around the painting, contrasting with the darker palette and unsettling subject matter.
At 92 × 122 cm, Beautiful Nightmare has a substantial presence. It's one of the darker works in my practice, created for someone drawn to figurative art that is beautiful, strange and slightly uncomfortable.
Original acrylic painting
Acrylic on canvas
92 × 122 × 3.8 cm
94 × 124 × 5 cm framed
Natural Tasmanian oak floating frame
Ready to hang
Please note that colours and metallic details may vary slightly between screens and lighting conditions.
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