This painting needed to speak about power and ambition. For Sariel, the phases of the moon represent the rising and falling nature of our lives. I knew that I wanted to do a piece with the moon being full and Sariel looking fully empowered but I’m never happy unless the themes get more specific than that.
Once I began to get more specific about my own personal ambitions things came into focus. I really want my kids to get a chance to visit the moon. It feels so possible somehow. Tying the Watchers desire to escape back to the stars to my own desire to have humanity do the same felt like an important touchstone to keep this painting personal.
As the Earth tugs on the Moon, the Moon tugs back on the Earth. For each force, another will always exist in perfect opposition. The lives of men and Angels are similar. Though the power of one may be greater than the other, their existence reflects each other.
When the war started, the Angels that were uninvolved stayed clear of the wave of death that spread across the Earth. To risk one’s immortality on fighting seemed chance not worth taking. Sariel perched above it all, waiting for the wave of bloodshed to roll back. In doing so, his power receded as well. He waited patiently and watched himself waste away. He waited for his time to come, to venture out and regain his freedom amongst the stars.
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Until next time, much love!
- Pete
