Stories behind art are fascinating. Artists use their brushes, paint, canvases and tools to create stories like writers use a pen and paper. Here artists reveal the inspiration behind their masterpieces. It’s a rare opportunity to not guess but hear how the work was born first hand.  

One Artist. One Story

Dee Perconti is a long time resident of St. Petersburg Florida. She has had several successful group and solo art shows and her work can be found in private and corporate collections. Dee takes her old paintings and rips, cuts, tears and combines them. She takes something boring or plain, and gives it a new life. Vibrant, completely changed, in-your-face emotional collages are born. The colors are explosive. They are unafraid, quirky, lush and totally transformed. They have been given a do-over.

Phoenix by Dee Perconti. 28″ x 24″, Mixed Media

“When I made Phoenix last year I had no idea it would turn out to be somewhat prophetic. I was thinking of China and its majestic jagged mountains when I started to collage. I wanted it to have a strong Asian feel. I used torn canvas with thick paint that had been layered using a palette knife. I added dried “skins” of paint for texture and gold beads to emphasize the wings of the Phoenix.

I had no way of knowing that in 2020 reference to China would bring to mind Pandemic. And I certainly didn’t know that a Phoenix rising from the ashes would be a symbol for the world to have hope of victory over Covid -19.

As we know, the Phoenix is a mythical bird from Greek mythology.  It has been said, to rise like a phoenix from the ashes means to emerge from a catastrophe stronger, smarter and more powerful.

It is my prayer that my Phoenix painting with its bold, potent colors, is a predictor of how our World will rise and vanquish the Virus.”

Follow Dee Perconti on Social Media: Instagram @deeperconti Website www.dee.perconti.com