Hero: The Paintings of Robert Bissell

While it is clear that artist Robert Bissell (American. b. England 1952) derives his inspiration from the animal world. his paintings are not simply portraits of bears. rabbits. and other creatures. They are allegories for the challenges and discoveries all living beings encounter on life’s journey.Bissell’s reading of Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces initiated his own journey as artist to portray the callings we have. the quests we undertake. difficulties we share. helping hands that appear out of nowhere (it seems). and finally the elations and conclusions we all have in common.Hero: The Paintings of Robert Bissell is organized according to the construct of Campbell’s hero’s journey. Each of the 10 chapters—from Genesis and Vision through Crossing and Initiation to Return and Elixir—presents paintings that interpret these archetypal experiences. Bissell’s grand and detailed landscapes provide Edenic stages for each scene in the journey.