Goddess of Archery
In 2019, I made the big move to New Mexico, and it didn’t take long for me to fall in love with the Land of Enchantment. The art and culture here quickly began weaving their way into my work. As I explored my property, I stumbled upon arrowheads scattered across the land—each one igniting my imagination. What kind of Goddess of Archery could I bring to life on canvas?
It felt only natural that this vision would culminate in a self-portrait, capturing the essence of strength, skill, and grace. I wore the painted dress from my 2018 New York show, and before stepping into the scene, I covered myself in white face paint to give the figure a ghostly, otherworldly aura. The headdress I designed was crafted from dried willows, plaster, dried flowers, and many bobby pins… You can almost feel the tension in her muscles as she pulls back on the bowstring. The wind whips through her headdress, crackling with anticipation, while the forest blurs into motion around her. What do you think lies beyond the frame?
Is she being pursued, or is she the one giving chase? The sharp tip of her arrow invites you to wonder where it’s aimed and what intentions are guiding her.
Aside from the face and arms, this piece was painted entirely without brushes, using my oil finger-painting technique. The result is a thick, almost candy-like texture that begs to be felt as much as seen, giving the artwork a vibrancy that seems to pulse off the canvas.
This piece marks the final chapter of my self-portrait series. From the start, I envisioned the headdress, the hand-painted dress, and the bow and arrow as key elements in this last piece, and now all of them have been intricately woven into the work. It will be my pleasure to include all of these props with the painting for whoever makes it part of their collection. The dress, the headdress, the bow and the arrow should stay forever with the piece.
Title: "Goddess of Archery” by Iris Scott
Year: 2020
Medium: Oil on canvas
Size: 96x72 inches. Canvas depth - 2-1/4 inches. The sides of the canvas are painted as a wrap-around continuation of the painting. Arrives ready to hang.
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