Original oil painting on stretched canvas by Elaine Lazarus, 48" x 36"

Dragon Lady explores themes of femininity and self-perception through three symbolic figures. The woman on the left represents my heavier self, blind in one eye from love and holding a crystal ball—yet unable to see her own future. On the far right stands my tall, thin self, free to eat what she wants while still appearing effortlessly attractive. Emerging from a flower intertwined with twigs is my most confident self, declaring, accept me as I am.

The Wesson Oil can pouring into the skillet references a vintage magazine ad, where I altered the phrase “Pure Delicious Vegetable Fat” to replace fat with lean—a commentary on beauty ideals and cultural messaging. The faintly visible words Dragon Lady suggest the potential for being controlling, yet softened by self-awareness. Paisley patterns and the woman in the lime-green gown symbolize my lifelong love of fashion, while the Coke bottle with breasts echoes the original bottle’s inspiration—a woman’s silhouette.