Winged Consort I 

Mary Jane Ansell created "Winged Consort I," using precise brushstrokes and a muted palette, creating a dreamlike portrait. The composition centers on a young woman whose gaze drifts slightly to the left. The background is a gradient of soft purples and greys, acting as a subtle stage for the figure. The most striking element is the pair of large, black, feathered wings sprouting from her back. Their sharp, linear quality contrasts with the smooth skin and rounded face of the subject. The wings disrupt traditional representations of angels, introducing an element of the uncanny. The butterfly brooch on her shoulder adds another layer to this semiotic interplay, a symbol of transformation and beauty juxtaposed with darker symbolism. Ansell masterfully uses contrast here - smooth versus textured, light versus dark - to destabilize fixed notions of identity. "Winged Consort I" challenges us to look beyond conventional beauty and embrace the complex interplay of light and dark. It suggests that beauty resides in this tension, not in a singular, static form.