ART BY John McConnell      artist cv   Journey of an Ancient Soul n#47 "Albert Einstein travels into the future in his House Boat Time Machine" Journey of an Ancient Soul N#58 Journey of the Great Canadian Salmon No. 2 Gondola Mayday Awekening #1 Jasmine Origins Journey of an Ancient Soul N0.55 Journey of an Ancient Soul N#51 Journey of an Ancient Sout N#50 Junction Awekening #3 Awekening #2       “JOURNEY OF AN ANCIENT SOUL” SERIES In these paintings I am searching for the meaning of life’s journey; life, death, the after life and sometimes reincarnation. Each painting is a portrait of an Ancient Soul and the vessel in which that soul is traveling from this life to the next. Some struggle to rise above the setting sun to what Plato called “Anima Mundi” – the storehouse of all of mankind’s wisdom and knowledge. Some float helplessly in the great beyond, realizing for the first time that they are not in control and hoping that their inadequate lamp will show them the way. But each Ancient Soul, in its own unique vessel form, is involved in a personal and lonely struggle to attain eternal life. There is always strength and there is always hope. My work is influenced by the bog poems of the Irish poet Laureate Seamus Heaney, some personal words of advice received in a letter from the Canadian painter Harold Town and my own recent journey back to Ireland for seven years to explore my own genetic heritage through my painting. My hope is that each painting will reveal something new to the viewer and take them on a spiritual journey not previously experienced John McConnell is most widely known for his “Ancient Soul” and “Earth Mother” series of paintings. But he also paints landscapes in oil and in watercolour. Each Ancient Soul painting is a portrait of an ancient soul and the vessel in which that soul is traveling on its journey to Paradise. These paintings, some 50 works so far in the series, are in collections around the world. Many limited editions of this series have also been sold.