This magical illustration was created by fourth-year animation student Anami Hayes.
This piece originated as a simple commission for Hayes. The goal was to create a beautifully rendered portrait of his client, a skill that Hayes is known for. But as he was in the midst of creating this portrait, Hayes felt that the portrait was missing something important to differentiate it from other portraits: the personal expression of the artist.
Hayes asked himself, “What does this mean to me?” The answer to this question revealed itself in the form of the sun goddess, Arinniti, from Hittite mythology. Hayes is a fan of historical paintings, and this particular piece of mythological history spoke to him in a way that inspired him.
In the portrait, a finger is pointed towards the subject as a reference to another famous historical piece, “The Creation of Adam,” where there is tension between God’s and Adam’s fingers. However, in this case, the finger is cocked towards the Arinniti figure as a way for her to say, “I am the creator.”
The plant beside her represents the life the sun provides, for without her there would be no living things. Behind her head is a golden halo to represent the sun and highlight her religious significance as a deity to be worshipped.
Hayes is particularly proud of this piece, which morphed from a simple portrait commission to a highly detailed and symbolic illustration. He used texture and light to draw the viewer’s eyes to the central figure and make her appear as if she is coming out of light. Hayes also prides himself on the use of color in this piece, as color is an aspect of art he holds in the highest regard.
Hayes lives by the quote, “The goal isn’t to live forever, but to create something that will.” This is evident in his art through the influence of art history and the personal touch he includes in every piece, making his work extremely memorable.
If you want to see more of Hayes’s beautiful work, his Instagram is @_illuminami.
