A Mentor in Change

Natural Light

Back-lighting

A Mentor in Change:
Oil Painting on Panel with Encaustic on Plexi, 21.75" x 16.75"

“Transformation” Artist Statement:
-Adam Wolgamott

We often resist change with great passion. However, it is appealing to think of a world that embraces change with the same enthusiasm - or better yet, accepts it as easily as we accept the turning of the seasons. I adore nature. It is rich in life lessons to be learned.

A chameleon can become a great teacher to an open-minded student, especially on the topic of transformation. Symbolically, chameleons teach us lessons of patience, survival, and how to use camouflage to ones benefit. They teach us how to climb to attain ones goals, and also prove how transformation is a simple part of life; demonstrated through the shedding of ones self (skin) and becoming anew.

Unlike chameleons, humans have made transformation a difficult process by adding too many layers of ego between the physical and spiritual planes. Anxieties from change often prevent us from experiencing the mysteries of transformation and the many blessings that come with being born into something new and more beautiful.

In this painting I portray a veiled chameleon, a master of transformation and a great teacher. I hope to spark interest by revealing the chameleon through layers of meaning and visual representations. My intent is to engage the viewer to accept transformation – as nature intended – part of life.

Transformation brings about necessary change for purposes beyond our comprehension. Acknowledgment of this alleviates fears and anxieties, and connects us to the joys and mysteries of creation itself.

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Oils and encaustics are amazing mediums to work with. For those not familiar with encaustics, they are basically painting with wax as the medium. The possibilities are really endless with this stuff! With this painting I framed my panel box with plexiglass and experimented with layering the encaustics onto the glass to play with the translucency of the wax and backlighting. And yes! Those are real cockroaches (they passed away from natural causes I promise!) inlaid into the wax.

I would love your feedback on this piece!