While Empires Grow - Painting

This painting (oil on canvas 40x60cm) is based on the original pencil drawing/digital image of "As Empires Grow". I suppose the title refers to the growth of my own art "empire", expanding my hold on the subconcious realm via conquest. In many forms of mythology, such as the tarot for example, a body of water is often used to represent the subconscious. In this piece however, as in some of my other images, the water has drained away, representing the lifting of the veil, and the sudden exposure of what lies hidden beneath the surface. The sea creature in the foreground represents the id, the blind desire usually submerged in the unconscious, suddenly finding itself on dry land, desperatley reaching out it's tentacles to grasp hold of objects and symbols.