Description Title: 'Abraxas'.Creation Date: 30 July 2018.'Fire Portraits' Series.Series Years: 2017 - 2018.Influence: 'To Reign in Hell' novel by Steven Brust.Art Photographs: Photography of fire shaped into Portrait-like imagery, of the characters, angels, in 'To Reign in Hell', written by Steven Brust.Note 1: After doing the first art photo, I said to myself, 'I'm seeing some faces from Brust's novel in this image, and I need to investigate, and work this out further to see what develops.' Note 2: One very interesting aspect of Brust's story is that all of the angels were essentially good until a conflict and deception arose among the angels. On top of that, the three 'evil' angels in the story ( evil according to many 'modernised' views...modern being several thousand years for Satan/Lucifer/Devil, and hundreds for Mephisto ) Satan and Lucifer are the same entity, and Mephistopheles is the name invented for the historical Johann Georg Faust (c. 1480c. 1540), and in demonology, Mephistopheles was 'one of the seven chief devils and the tempter of Faust'. Nevertheless, in Brust's story, Satan and Lucifer are 'First-Borns', and Mephistopheles in Brust's story, is an archangel, not a devil or demon.Note 3: My Brust angels are a contradiction because they are made of fire. Angels, 'fallen' or not, made of fire, I think is a contradiction.4) Abraxas is a very powerful Archon. 'Abraxas (Gk. , variant form Abrasax, ) is a word of mystic meaning in the system of the Gnostic Basilides, being there applied to the 'Great Archon' (Gk., megas archn), the princeps of the 365 spheres (Gk., ouranoi). The word is found in Gnostic texts such as the Holy Book of the Great Invisible Spirit, and also appears in the Greek Magical Papyri. It was engraved on certain antique gemstones, called on that account Abraxas stones, which were used as amulets or charms.' Source: Wikipedia / Abraxas._________* Please Consider Purchasing Fine Art Prints For
Nawfal Johnson, Malaysia Member Since September 2006 Artist Statement IMAGEKIND: ARTIST BIO — Nawfal Johnson — Smokephotographist Beginnings: When I pick up my camera ... when I compose the subjects in the frame ... and, when I plan and set up my lighting, I have one thing in mind — To take a better photograph than the last time.
I have been using a camera as a hobbyist since I was 12 years old, and then as a freelance professional since 1998.
Photography is a Madness for Me — My Work: I have been a long-time Freelance Stage & Dance Photographer; nevertheless, I focus much of my energy designing fine art Abstract, and, Abstract Expressionism Photography. I also design SMOKE-ART PHOTOGRAPHY, and that is the art style I focused on in my 2011 book, titled, ETHEREAL DREAMS and HOPE.
My Artistic Influences: My main artistic influences are Jackson Pollock and Robert Henri. As for photographic influences, I have always drawn inspiration from photographers Carl Fischer, and Andreas Feininger.