The Bird of Jove Series: From the Purple-Shaded Shadow to Flight

The Bird of Jove painting series is an exploration of departure—what it means to leave inherited comfort, confront fear, and step into self-directed light.

At the center of the collection is The Purple Shaded Shadow of the Bird of Jove, a work that introduces the guiding metaphor of the series: a vast, protective canopy cast by a celestial bird. The shadow is soothing, cooling, and generous. It represents systems—cultural, psychological, and spiritual—that offer shelter while quietly shaping behavior. Within this shadow, fear is managed, but growth is delayed.

The second painting, Bird of Jove and the Filthy Flight to the Beginning marks the first act of movement. This is not a clean escape. The figure lifts off while still carrying residue—doubt, fear, and the habits formed under protection. The “filthy flight” acknowledges that transformation is rarely elegant at its start. Growth begins before certainty arrives.

The series culminates with The Bird of Jove and the Fearless Flight to the End. Here, flight is no longer reactive. The shadow no longer defines direction. The Bird of Jove remains present, but only as witness. Illumination comes from within, and movement is guided by clarity rather than refuge.

Together, the three paintings form a narrative arc:

• Shelter

• Departure

• Alignment

This collection is not an indictment of comfort, nor a rejection of guidance. It is an inquiry into timing—into knowing when protection has fulfilled its purpose. The Bird of Jove does not trap; it prepares. Leaving the shadow becomes an initiation into awareness, responsibility, and presence.

The Bird of Jove series invites viewers to recognize the systems they dwell beneath, acknowledge what those systems have provided, and ask the quiet but necessary question: When is it time to fly on my own?

Embedded within the series is a hidden message, revealed through familiar symbols. The Republic of the United States serves as one example among many cultural, national, religious, and ideological constructs. Its flag—red, white, and blue—when blended, produces a muted, purple-toned shadow, an illusion hidden in plain sight.

The eagle, or vulture-like form, becomes a question of approach: do we stand beneath the symbol for protection, or do we rise to observe it with discernment? In this way, the Bird of Jove is not a single nation or system, but a universal construct—one that shelters, conditions, and ultimately challenges us to decide how we engage with the structures that shape our lives.