of Jeremy Opp

This painting represents the changing of the fall colors as well as the transformation of our souls. Combining two ideas in one I wanted to create a visual aid for me and others that represents what our transformation looks like. Beauty transforms into more beauty as we undergo the process of dying to ourselves. Trees lose their leaves, but gain them back in the Spring with new leaves. Each season, trees develop new beauty with their new leaves as do we with our newer and better selves.

I wanted to depict what God would see if He looked down at His Universe He created. I also call it a dance for the purpose of the movement of the painting and the orbit of each planet and star. Also, there is a hidden swan in the image I unintentionally painted into the Universe while finishing the painting.

I wanted to paint an a visual aid to what it might look like for a soul to cry out. As wolves and coyotes make their cry to their posse, humans also cry out to God, themselves and others while in pain, distress or loneliness.

While the owl can be hunted by a predator like the wolf, this painting represents us flying away from danger and our enemy while we are being attacked. I created the night sky to be the background to portray when wolves and other predators attack the innocent owls or other animals they hunt.

I have always loved Tigers. They have been in the top of my favorite animals list. For this painting, I wanted to depict the impression of what a photographer trying to get shots at night of a big cat would look like when he didn't know the Tiger already knew he was there when he took the shot. Hence the 'fierce' look of the Tiger is portrayed to resemble him making sure the photographer doesn't come any closer.

Every human has a beautiful soul inside whether we realize it or not. It might be hidden underneath layers of hurt, walls, or other obstacles, but its still there, waiting to be unveiled. I painted this to depict how beautiful and layered the human soul really is. The sunset represents the beautiful light that surfaces from all the layers of beauty within the soul. The waves and layers of color represent the multiple ways the soul can show its beauty.