The Mystic
(Neptune)

For an exhibition at a science fiction convention I produced a set of seven paintings based on the pieces in Holst's Planets suite. The pieces were not based on the planets themselves, or the mythology which inspired the music, but the music itself. Of course it would be an indictment on the music if it weren't to engender some of the attributes of the planet that it itself is about, but I wanted to firstly see how far inspiration by inspiration could go, and also make the audience of SF fans think about the cosmos in a more abstract manner.

This piece represents Neptune, The Mystic.

In many ways this was the least successful of the suite, as it engaged fewest viewers, but personally in many ways it was the most successful in that it portrayed what I wanted. I found the piece very introspective; making me look at myself, and think of the power within, so the piece consists of two distinct layers - the deep, rich textured green and brown and then floating atop it, a reflective surface made with iridescent paint to imply a reflection back at the viewer.