A little girl, alone in a glen, looks into a pond and sees an unexpected reflection: rather than her current appearance, she sees her future self. She sees a woman of strength and great beauty – a leader, a fighter.

The symbolic aspects of the painting are evident. The setting is a magical pond among trees, which conjures up the land of Narnia (The Magician’s Nephew). As for the reflection, the “warrior princess” is a venerable archetype, of much current popularity. More particularly, the warrior’s stance, costume, and dragon conjure up Game of Thrones.

At the same time, many aspects of the painting connect to circumstances in this world. The woman and young girl of the painting are, in fact, mother and daughter. The daughter’s thoughts about and feelings toward her mother are consonant (almost all the time) with the attitude symbolized in the painting– admiration and a desire to emulate. The mother is, in fact, strong, beautiful, a leader, and when necessary a fighter.

While some warrior princesses are creatures solely of legend or mythology, many others not only existed but moreover led troops victoriously into battle.

Boudica, who led the Celts against the Romans in the first century C.E., is an example. And, while I was doing this painting I had her as much in mind as I did the Game of Thrones. On the other hand, it so happens that the Game of Thrones is the mother’s favorite broadcast series of all time.

I had great fun doing this painting.