Angel Paintings-The Symbols Behind Angel Art

How can one draw out angelic symbolism in a painting? There is a wide variety of angel paintings out there, from traditional and historical, to modern and sensational, to sweet angel pictures designed for greeting cards and children, to even the strange and slightly sinister! Yet all these types of art share the same subject. And that's not all; though it varies through different paintings and artists, symbolism can play a significant role in these paintings of beings from tradition and legend. Though there are many ways to approach symbolism in angel art, I will be introducing you to interpretations I have taken in my own watercolors.

Although my angel paintings can be described as beautiful, there is a lot more going on with these works than aesthetic taste. Everything within the painting, from the color choice, setting, clothing, pose and objects within these angel paintings is drawn from my research of individual angels.

For instance, in my painting of Metatron I stayed as true to traditional descriptions as possible. I showed his thirty-six pairs of wings gently moving behind him, sitting on a throne with a simple, modern feel. His "many eyes" become motifs on each of his feathers. Because Metatron is considered one of the Seraphim, I chose red as the dominant color for the expanded analogous theme. I layered washes of unexpected color combinations (letting each layer dry before adding the next) to enhance the otherworldly feel I was going for.

Likewise, I interpreted Sandolphon with an individual but relevant style. He wears a dark robe of crackling energy, and this description drew me to paint this angel. The garland he weaves, the sword be his side, the tiny flying birds dwarfed by his immensely tall stature, are all true descriptions. The sharp contrast of extreme light and dark and sense of motion around him helped add the sense of power I chose to convey.

Jophiel lent particular individual attention. This angel is patron of art and beauty, as well as the environment and sometimes revealing corruption. Though one of the Thrones I chose a more human appearance. Jophiel's clothes connect this angel to one of the most artistic periods of recent history, the 1960s and some of the concerns of that era. The natural scene of plants and stones form her connection to the environment.

Again I ask, how can one draw out angelic symbolism in a painting? The answer lies in personal experience and understanding. I myself researched a number of sources drawing from specific traditions and documents. I incorporated not only literal descriptions in my art, but legends and things that were associated symbolically with the individual angels. In this way my paintings may hold simple beauty on the surface, but symbolism gives clues to their individual nature, and allude to their personal story through modern interpretation.