At the beginning of 2022, I ventured into a Mythology Series. Throughout art history, mythology has been painted using imagery of gods and goddesses in their human forms. Artists including but not limited to Jackson Pollock, Peter Paul Rubens, Pablo Picasso, Leonardo da Vinci, Paul Cézanne, Cy Twombly, and Marie Laurencin have all used mythology to weave stories into visual imagery.
My personal charge within this series was to study Greek mythology and translate certain stories of the past onto a canvas without using the human form. Here, I explored storytelling through symbolism and nature.
“Icarus”
2022
46in x 46in, Oil & acrylic on beveled tondo (round) canvas
“Icarus” was completed in 2022 by artist Nancy Hilliard Joyce. In Greek mythology, Icarus was the son of the master craftsman Daedalus, the creator of the Labyrinth. Icarus and Daedalus attempt to escape from Crete by means of wings that Daedalus constructed from feathers and wax. Daedalus warns Icarus first of complacency and then of hubris, instructing him to fly neither too low nor too high, lest the sea’s dampness clog his wings or the sun’s heat melt them. Icarus ignores his father’s instruction not to fly too close to the sun, causing the wax in his wings to melt. The myth gave rise to the idiom “don’t fly too close to the sun”.
“Icarus” (in situ)
2022
46in x 46in, Oil & acrylic on beveled tondo (round) canvas
“Hera”
2022
24in x 30in, 23-carat gold leaf, oil and acrylic on canvas
“Hera” was completed in 2022 by artist Nancy Hilliard Joyce. This painting is symbolic of freedom and confidence.
Hera was the Greek goddess of women, family, as well as the protector of childbirth. Hera was considered the queen of Mount Olympus. Hera’s symbol were the diadem, the scepter and the pomegranate, a symbol of fertility. Her flower was the lily and her sacred animals were the peacock and the panther.
“Hera” (in situ)
2022
24in x 30in, 23-carat gold leaf, oil and acrylic on canvas
“Narcissus”
2022
24in. x 30in., Oil & Acrylic on Canvas
“Narcissus” was completed in 2022 by artist Nancy Hilliard Joyce. He was the son of the river god and distinguished for his beauty. According to myth, Narcissus was walking by a still river and decided to drink some water. When he noticed his reflection in the water, he became entranced by the image of himself. Because it was himself he admired, he could not obtain the object of his wanting and died at the banks of the river from sorrow. The Narcissus flower that bears his name sprang up where he remained.
“Narcissus” (in situ)
2022
24in. x 30in., Oil & Acrylic on Canvas
“Dionysus”
2022
23in. x 23in., Oil & Acrylic on Canvas
“Dionysus” was completed in 2022 by artist Nancy Hilliard Joyce. Dionysus was the god not only of wine and fertility but also of festivity, pleasure, vegetation, and wild frenzy. He’s often considered a patron of the arts. He created wine and spread the art of viticulture. Dionysus was associated with various animals. His characteristic symbols were were a two-handled goblet, tigers, leopards, ivy, grapevines and wine.
“Dionysus” (in situ)
2022
23in x 23in, Oil and Acrylic on wooden panel
“Iris”
2022
20in. x 20in., Oil & Acrylic on Canvas
“Iris” was completed in 2022 by artist Nancy Hilliard Joyce. This painting is symbolic of peace, tolerance and messages from a higher power. Iris is represented here with his symbols of the shadowy river, pitcher, colorful rainbow, and pigeon messenger.
Iris in Greek mythology, was the personification of the rainbow and a messenger of the gods. Iris was a goddess of sea and sky and was often seen with a pitcher. The ancient Greeks considered Iris the female counterpart of Hermes as she served as a messenger from Mt. Olympus. Some legends suggest she used a pitcher to collect water from the River Styx, the shadowy river separating the world of human beings from the underworld. Many Greeks viewed Iris as an important link between mortals and the realm of the gods.
“Iris” (in situ)
2022
20in. x 20in., Oil & Acrylic on Canvas
“Pandora”
2022
40in. x 30in., Oil & acrylic on canvas
“Pandora” was completed in 2022 by artist Nancy Hilliard Joyce. This is a story about hope. In greek mythology “Pandora” was given a jar (that was later translated into the word “box”). She was told not to open the box. Curiosity got the best of her and one evening, Pandora opened the jar and all the evils of the world were released. All that remained inside of the jar was ‘hope’. This is a painting using symbolism, Pandora’s jar and the personification of hope.
“Pandora” (in situ)
2022
40in x 30in, Oil & acrylic on canvas
“Hermes”
2022
24in. x 24in., Oil & Acrylic on wooden panel
“Hermes” was completed in 2022 by artist Nancy Hilliard Joyce. This painting is symbolic of traveling and the boundary between life and death. Hermes is represented here with his symbols of the caduceus, tortoise, lyre, cattle, sun and moon.
Hermes was the ancient Greek god of boundaries, roads and travelers, wealth, wit, sleep, and messenger of the gods and guide to the underworld. As one of the cleverest and most mischievous of the Olympian gods, as an infant, he raided his older brother’s cattle herd and made his brother believe his cattle had mysteriously disappeared. To earn back his brother’s love and trust, he invented and gifted him a lyre made from a tortoiseshell.
“Hermes” (in situ)
2022
24in. x 24in., Oil & Acrylic on wooden panel
“Aphrodite”
2022
46in x 46in, Oil & acrylic on beveled tondo (round) canvas
“Aphrodite” was completed in 2022 by artist Nancy Hilliard Joyce. The ancient Greek goddess of sexual love and beauty. The goddesses name is usually linked to the Ancient Greek word for “sea-foam,” or “aphros” because stories are told that the goddess of love emerged from the waters on a scallop shell. ❃ Aphrodite’s symbols, including doves, shells, and water which are also enduring emblems of beauty and love. “Love is the most powerful motivator in the world. It spurs mortals to greatness. Their noblest and bravest acts are done for love.”
“Aphrodite” (in situ)
2022
46in x 46in, Oil & acrylic on beveled tondo (round) canvas
“Artemis”
2022
36in x 36in, 23-carat gold an silver, oil and acrylic on canvas
“Artemis” was completed in 2022 by artist Nancy Hilliard Joyce. Artemis is the Olympian goddess of the hunt, the moon, and chastity; in time, she also became associated with childbirth and nature. Her sacred animal was the deer. She is seen here with a cypress tree, bow & arrow, quiver, crescent moon and Orion star pattern in the sky.
Homer calls Artemis either “The Mistress of Animals” or “She of the Wild.” The most famous story involves Orion, a long-time hunting companion of hers. In fact, he may as well have been Artemis’ only love interest. However, when he tried taking off Artemis’ robe, the goddess killed him.
“Artemis” (in situ)
2022
36in x 36in, 23-carat gold an silver, oil and acrylic on canvas
“Zeus”
2022
20in. x 20in., Oil & Acrylic on Canvas
“Zeus” was completed in 2022 by artist Nancy Hilliard Joyce. Zeus is the god of the sky and air in ancient Greek mythology. He also is ruler of thunder, winds, clouds, lightening bolt, oak tree, and is usually seen with his sacred animal, the hawk.
Both the ancient Greeks and Romans believed a spot struck by lightning was sacred and as a result, temples were often erected at the location, in both cultures. People would worship there in an attempt to appease the gods and prevent thunderstorms from occurring. Lightning is also associated with wind, rain and crop growth.
Zeus is generally represented as the omnipotent father and king of gods and men. His messenger was Iris, the winged goddess of the rainbow, who simply relayed messages verbatim and delivered commands to the other gods.
“Zeus” (in frame)
2022
20in. x 20in., Oil & Acrylic on Canvas
