Athena 2012

This painting of Athena by Michael C. Hayes, made sometime in the 20th century, makes me think about comic books and fantasy art. It must’ve been pretty wild painting those wings, feather by feather—imagine trying to get the light just so, so they look both strong and soft. I’m trying to get inside Hayes’s head, picturing him at his easel, maybe listening to some power metal while he works. I see him using thin layers of paint to build up the figure, carefully shading the muscles to give her that Amazonian look. It's not just about showing off skill; it's about creating a whole mood, a world of heroes and gods. Those dark blues against the earthy browns, it gives her a real presence, like she could step right out of the canvas. We're always borrowing from each other, aren't we? Hayes, in his own way, taps into this long line of artists trying to capture something larger than life. And that’s the point, right? To keep that conversation going, to add our own voices to the mix.