Ofelia Wearing a Snake Skin Mask: a Portrait of the 2020 Pandemic

Over the past two year, I have painted a number of portraits of this young lady. I primarily emphasized her eyes as playful, teasing or sexy in their posturing.

… When I found a shed snake skin in the desert, I decided to make a veil for a new portrait of hers. But this time, given the Covid-19 pandemic, her eyes had to be less playful, more introspective and with a touch of sadness.

So, here is my starting point: a hare skin, raven feathers I collected when they drop them, and the snake skin. Usually I use materials as I go depending on how the painting is progressing.

I found that painting introspective eyes with my painting knife was harder than playful and teasing eyes. The lines have to be straighter, and more shadows are needed. And the delicate snake skin needs very careful handling to give it shape while keeping its structural proportions and texture.

 I painted locks of hair that would be covered by a headpiece made of quail chess feathers and the tip of a squirrel’s tail. The delicate snake skin needed borders.

And Ofelia took shape, through my attempt to represent the pandemic of 2020. The snake skin is very delicate and translucent, so quartz and turquoise stones framed the borders of the veil with just a hint of movement. The headpiece is shown on the lower right corner and I eventually replaced the smaller raven feathers with larger ones to emphases the darkness of her thoughts.

Here are examples of my previous painting of eyes celebrating happier times:

A Middle Eastern veil made of beads

An Eastern European motif with the fur hat:

And a more “classic” posture with a lot of movement

When the pandemic eases its grip upon our days, I will paint a new one with hopeful and teasing eyes!

June 22, 2020

© Vahé A. Kazandjian, 2020