Gracing the homepage of my website this month is a detail shot from this recently finished illo I completed titled "Sorceress". While working on this piece I was thinking about science fiction and fantasy writers whose work I am familiar with. I had recently watched an interview with the great concept artist Ian McCaig and remembered him being inspired by the American mythologist and writer Joseph Campbell. A few Google searches and thirty minutes later I was immersed in Mr. Campbell's life and work.
An amazing visionary, pioneer and savior of world mythology in the
modern age, Joseph Campbell would have many interests and influences
from the likes of Carl Jung, Sigmund Freud and Wilhelm Stekel. Campbell
was great freinds with fellow writer John Steinbeck and even lived in
Monterey, CA next door to the legendary "Doc" Ricketts of all people.
Campbell would go on to originate the term monomyth or what would later become known as the The Hero's Journey and what has now become a standard in contemporary story writing structure.
Being totally blown away with Joseph Cambell's dedication to story writing and the survival of mythology in modern day society I decided to include a famous quote of his to accompany my illustration. They seemed to fit nicely together.
"Follow your bliss, and the world will open doors where there were only walls."
- Joseph Campbell (1904-1987)
For more information on Joseph Campbell click --> HERE
To see the detail shot of this work on my homepage click --> HERE
Artwork: "Sorceress"
9" x 12" oil on paper
©Copyright Trey Gallaher
