Elysia Varn · No. 655

Serpentine Veil of the Obsidian Chalice

An altar draped in flowing veils of serpent‑silk dominates the scene, each fabric shimmering with a subtle iridescence that catches the dim light of surrounding torches. The silks, delicate as gossamer, begin to animate, their folds unfurling and coiling into living serpents that glide across the altar’s stone surface, their scales glistening with an obsidian luster. At the centre of the altar rests an obsidian chalice, its surface a mirror of liquid night, within which a viscous, dark fluid swirls as though reflecting the very soul of the gathering. The serpents, in their sinuous motion, intertwine around the chalice, their bodies forming intricate patterns that echo ancient sigils of power. The surrounding space is cloaked in deep umber and shadowed crimson, evoking a solemn atmosphere of ritual and mystery. Varn’s use of contrasting textures—soft silk against cold stone, fluid obsidian against the supple serpent—creates a tactile tension that underscores the theme of transformation. The work suggests a rite of communion between the earthly and the ethereal, where the veil of silk becomes a conduit for living symbols, and the chalice serves as a portal to hidden depths.

An original oil painting on canvas by Elysia Varn, painted to order — never a reproduction. Elysia Varn brings a nocturnal alchemy to Visionary Macabre, using a phosphorescent midnight palette and a mixed-media technique that fuses oil, enamel, and powdered moonstone, creating a luminous, otherworldly glow that distinguishes her work from peers.

Artist

Elysia Varn

Medium

Oil on canvas

Finish

Unframed, ready to hang or frame

Made

To order, by hand