Athena 2012

Michael C. Hayes made this painting of Athena sometime in the 20th century, and the first thing I notice is its classical feel, like something you might find in a history book. Looking at the wings, you can see the artist working with layers of paint to build up the texture of each feather. The blues and whites are blended in a way that feels soft, almost like you could reach out and touch them. And then, those dark blues towards the tips of the feathers, they're so rich and deep, they almost seem to suck the light in. The way Hayes uses color to define the muscles of Athena’s arm is really striking. It’s a very human representation of a mythological figure, that kind of tension between real and unreal is what I like about it. It reminds me a little of Frank Frazetta, who also loved to paint powerful, heroic figures. Art is just one big conversation, isn’t it?