LADY IN GOLD: Sensory Seas

An Underwater Odyssey. High-Fashion Metamorphosis.

“Lady in Gold” is a sister-piece to my “Lady in Pink,” both conceived during the 2020 lockdowns as a way to navigate the silence of isolation. While the pink study focused on internal vulnerability, “Lady in Gold” is an outward transformation—an exploration of a “Sensory Sea” where the human form begins to merge with the majestic, ancient spirits of the deep.

The Inspiration: Iris van Herpen & The Deep

This work is heavily inspired by the avant-garde “Sensory Seas” collection by Iris van Herpen. I was captivated by the way she mimics the rhythmic, hydro-dynamic movement of marine life through architectural fashion.

• The Spirit Animal: Deeply personal to my own journey, this piece incorporates the essence of the Turtle—my spirit animal. I wanted to capture that sense of ancient wisdom, protection, and the effortless glide of a creature that is perfectly at home in the vast unknown of the ocean.

• The Golden “Shell”: The gold elements represent more than just color; they are a biological armor. I am developing this “creature from the deep” to look as though she is evolving, with golden textures that mimic both high-fashion couture and the organic patterns of a turtle’s shell.

The Vision: A Work in Progress

Currently hanging in my studio, “Lady in Gold” is a living experiment in texture and light.

• Submerged Aesthetics: Using the Dry Brush Oil technique for her features, I’ve aimed for a look that feels slightly “underwater”—ethereal, shimmering, and serene.

• The 3D Future: As I brew new ideas for its completion, I plan to use Stone-Couture and Acrylic Skins to build out the “fin-like” or “shell-like” structures. My goal is to create a sculpture-painting hybrid where the gold literally ripples off the canvas like a sensory wave.

Technical Mastery: The Foundation

1. Dry Brush Oil: Utilized to achieve the soft, golden-hour glow of the skin and the fluid, weightless quality of her hair.

2. Couture Engineering: Taking cues from van Herpen’s work to draft “biological” patterns that defy the traditional boundaries of a portrait.

Product Specifications

• Medium: Professional Oil on Canvas (Work in Progress).

• Technique: Signature Dry Brush with upcoming 3D Stone-Couture elements.

• Inspiration: Iris van Herpen’s Sensory Seas & Marine Biology.

• Artist: Yulia Pokalo Art (YPA).

A Journey into the Unknown

“Lady in Gold” is a testament to the power of the imagination to carry us far beyond our four walls. It is a piece for the collector who finds beauty in the mysterious depths and the courage of transformation.