I am very proud and grateful to have Alchemy delivered and installed in his new home.

Alchemy is the featured work from my solo exhibition: Alchemy, an art series inspired by the novel The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho.

Scaling at a full 75 inches tall by 51 inches wide, Alchemy is the largest work of the entire collection and now in a private collection.

Each painting from this series embody the process of alchemy, the transmutation of metal into gold.

The blue represents royalty, wealth and the discovery and obtainment of one’s treasure.

The central message within the work—hidden beneath the layers and revealed on the canvas—are the words, “the pursuit.”

The treasure lies within the pursuit, not in the treasure itself.

Alchemy also contains a hidden (also slightly revealed) message.

Thankfully, I captured this message with photographs during the creative process.

The message reads:

“To find home + sanity in the process...in the journey, the treasure is not in some far out place...it’s not the pyramids, it’s not Fatima. It’s not the Alchemist. It’s not success. It’s not gold, money, safety or wealth. It’s not sex, power, influence, or sheep...It’s not achievement, it’s not a location. It’s not status, reputation. Your treasure is the pursuit.”

— AVM Hawkins

With Alchemy, now in a private collection, there is one last original painting, that remains from this series: Journey (It Belongs to You).

Journey is the largest work from the series that features the dominant use of metallic silver.

It has several exposed areas of natural canvas, indicating the beginning of the transformation process.

I painted directly on the canvas, layering textures to create my own version of paper mache by tearing recycled paper, saturating it in water, and applying glue.

In certain areas, I added additional layers of texture to capture the alchemistic transformation of the raw canvas into silver.

Oil pastel markings reveal the original canvas, showcasing various stages of the painting’s metamorphosis.

Journey incorporates a variety of vibrant colors, evoking a sense of fun, joy, and celebration—reflecting the enthusiasm one experiences when pursuing lifelong dreams, inspire of the obstacles they may face along the way.

Journey (It Belongs to You) Process Photo.

Alchemy is a special exhibition and art series, whose content and ideals will likely be a source I shall reference all throughout my creative expression.

Alchemy, begins to tell the story of manifestation—taking unassuming random, raw materials and transforming them into something extraordinary—conveying value to the owner and to all who share in it.

This is the process of alchemy.

Alchemy is the process artists set out to embark upon every time they step into the studio— to begin, continue, and / or finish a work of art.

Alchemy is also the process, every human being embarks upon, when they wake up in the morning, with a new day set forth before them.

We are all artists, and our greatest work is the life we create.

Alchemy - Artwork & Art Series Highlight