Rebirth by Rosana Azar

This was my first commission piece from the extraordinary fantasy artist Rosana Azar. Here was the sketch she made and got my approval to get the oil going. Wonderful pencil prelim of a phoenix with all its symbolism. Quotes from Stories of Gods and Heroes...After 500 years, the phoenix builds itself a nest in the branches of oak...In this it collects cinnamon,spinkenard and myrrh....and all these materials builds a pile on which it deposits itself and dying....From the body of its parent bird, a young phoenix issues forth....When it has grown up and gained sufficient strength, it lifts its nest from the tree ( its own cradle and its parent's sepulchre), and carries it to the city of Heliopolis Egypt and deposits it in the temple of the sun. Size is 11 by 14 inches Circa 1995. Thanks to AR of MD and JF of VA for this transaction.