As a Blake enthusiast of many years, I have been haunted by two of his engravings since I first saw them over two decades ago. The first, Death's Door, which is the central image in this digital composition, always seemed so heavy, grim and final. On the other hand, Jacob's Ladder, which comprises the other major image, seemed so light, ethereal and utterly optimistic.
It seemed only natural to combine these two opposites in a composite image that also includes a third figure (from an engraving in Milton), which acts as a unifying spirit. With her arms aloft and her eyes gazing skyward this creature of faery seems to be both mourning the end of a life, and simultaneously rejoicing at the prospect of that soul's eventual rebirth.
The sun in the image is both the rising and setting sun as the act of death is also a new beginning. The gold icon symbolizes this notion also signifies the title of this piece: Omega Est Alpha. The end is the beginning.
John Meluch was born in 1948 in the once industrial town of Lorain, Ohio. His earliest memories include the nightly fireworks of a nearby steel plant, the rumble of locomotives in his backyard, and the distant chatter of shipyard riveters......all a distant memory now. He has worked at several careers including: teacher, shipyard worker, graphic artist. He presently resides in
Lakewood, Ohio where he teaches High School English and also does freelance
digital graphics and photography. He has most recently collaborated with
British 3-D digital artist Tom Grimes.
