Photography by John Law

I took a vacation from The Ruling Planets by way of Mount Fuji. A commission for a wedding present, "Fuji-san" is a heartfelt impression of a subject that defies capturing. The ephemera of blossoms and drifting clouds frame an indomitable presence of cerulean and white. The key to this landscape is what you carry with you on the pilgrimage.

Both a symbol of serenity and an active volcano, Mount Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan. Believed to possess a female spirit, Fuji-san is revered as a sentient entity. Her foothills and forests are home to deities and demons. To resolutely ascend her pathway in darkness and tower above the clouds at dawn is to experience the breadth of one's spirit.

With Zeus now complete, I approach Athena with a little trepidation. Painting Zeus was like being enthralled by the ultimate rock star but Athena intimidates like a pragmatic older sister. Disdainful of feminine wiles and weaknesses, she prefers to associate with heroes on the battlefield. At a loss for words, I hope our relationship improves!

Photography by John Law

Welcome to my studio and thank you for joining me! I look forward to sharing this amazing project with you, beginning with Zeus, the god of planet Jupiter.

May I begin our adventure by sharing a memory? This self-portrait, painted many years ago, depicts an afternoon at the Vatican Gallery. (Perhaps I sat down due to Stendhal Syndrome, the dizziness from viewing an excess of great art.)

Wandering through palatial rooms, I encountered The Ruling Planets' deities; marble titans presiding over the ages from that eternal locus of power, Rome. Like countless pilgrims before me, I stood awe struck before Jupiter Enthroned. Many years later, my humble tribute in process is based on the Vatican Gallery's Otricoli Zeus. The Romans copied this marble portrait from Greek sculpture. I turn to this prototype for authenticity.