Medusa with snake head in modern style on canvas

Medusa is a complex, sometimes contradictory figure from Greek mythology. She herself experienced injustice and then became a monster with snakes on her head, which in turn spread terror. But what if there are always several sides to a coin?

Nowadays, it is also often seen as a symbol of female strength, trauma, overcoming and transformation, as well as the aspect of taking back one's own power.

The painting is part of my Mythology seriesin which I paint figures from ancient legends and myths in a modern setting. I do this deliberately because I want to remind you that there are superpowers in all of us and that the heroes, gods etc. are only a symbol of this. The old legends still live on - even in you! But we can interpret them in a modern way. I created the modern elements in this picture using collage elements and markings with acrylic pens.

In my painting of Medusa, I wanted to integrate the aspect of darkness and therefore started with a black canvas. But I also wanted to incorporate bright colors and symbols of transformation and change. That's why I used colorful spray paints to add accents to the canvas. I first primed Medusa herself in black and white and then used light glazes to make her and the snakes on her head more and more colorful. The result is a multi-layered picture that matches Medusa's personality.

This painting is done in many layers with spray paint, acrylics and oils.

You can see the development process here: