Joseph C. McGowan Studio

9'H x 4'W, Dual-Image painting on canvass
(Daylight/Blacklight)

I often look to nature for my inspiration, whether it be the glorious Aurora Borealis, the power and frenzy of a wildfire, or the serene beauty of the Aequorea Victoria. In this painting I wanted to capture the grace and beauty that so few ever get to see. In staying true to my roots I was able to combine the techniques of painting with conventional airbrush and applying the paint with a simple paint stirrer.

I believe it is the random nature of the paint gently falling off of the stirrer that best captures the beautiful Aequorea Victoria. Ever so delicate lines interlaced in her sea of content.

The paints applied here are Glow in the dark paint, or phosphorescent paint, which is a coating that will glow after it has been charged with light. Only the highest grade available luminescent paints are used in any of my paintings of works. A clear coating with ultra violet prohibiters is applied over the finished painting to protect and ensure the optimum effects for years. These paintings are designed to be viewed under daylight conditions and under Ultra violet (blacklight) conditions. The suggested ultra violet light is of course short wave 345 to 400 nm = used for "Black light" effects.

Black Light Basics

Simply put, "black light" is a form of light that you can't see, but causes interesting effects in other objects. "Fluorescent" objects glow as long as they are illuminated with black light. "Phosphorescent" objects glow for a while after having been exposed to black light. They continue to glow even after the black light is removed, and are often called "glow in the dark" or "GITD". When choosing a light source make sure that you purchase a blacklight which emits a short wave UV-A, preferably 345 to 400 nm. Lamps sold for entertainment purposesses fall into this category . The Joseph McGowan Studio works with only the best in their respected fields , so please call with any questions you may have about blacklights and the paints used to create these paintings.

Bioluminescence and other factoids about Aequorea, a hydromedusa

Aequorea victoria is an abundant jellyfish in Puget Sound, Washington State, from which the luminescent protein aequorin and the fluorescent molecule GFP (green fluorescent protein) have been extracted, purified, and eventually cloned. These two products have proven useful and popular in various kinds of biomedical research in the 1990s and 2000s and their value is likely to increase in coming years. Along with use of these products, comes a certain popular press explaining their source, with various factoids usually included about the jellyfish.
Mills, C.E. 1999-present. Bioluminescence of Aequorea, a hydromedusa. Electronic internet document available at http://faculty.washington.edu/cemills/Aequorea.html. Published by the author, web page established June 1999, last updated (see date at end of page).