Artist: Judith Monroe
Title: The Messenger
Medium: Mixed Media on Panel
Dimensions: 24"h x 24"w
Includes photo transfers, acrylic, color pencil, ephemera, and dried pressed leaves on cradled wood panel.
"The Messenger" features a surrealistic scene depicted in rich, textured layers. Dominating the composition is a fantastical creature that combines elements of avian and fish anatomy—a bird with expansive wings displays patterned feathers, yet its body transitions into a seahorse. The creature is captured mid-flight against a tranquil blue sky with hints of texture and pattern. To the left of the creature are tall, slender plants, their pale, flower-like blooms reaching upwards. These plants have dark green leaves, some of which are marked with intricate designs. Below, a narrow strip of color runs horizontally across the painting, separating the sky from the foreground. This lower portion consists of multicolored, horizontal stripes adding a sense of scale to the overall fantastical and dream-like atmosphere of the piece. The painting as a whole might be interpreted as a commentary on nature, imagination, or the intersection of the real and the unreal.