Exodus by Michael C. Hayes

"The title of this painting, Exodus, implies both the leaving of an old place and the wandering search that must take place before a new chapter can begin. Beyond being an amalgamation of all the elements I enjoy painting, armor, beautiful women, architecture and horses, Exodus is a very personal piece for me that represents a recent period in my life. After years of working as a commercial illustrator, I made the decision to take a leap of faith and leave that career to pursue my own artistic visions. This was a time of both fearful uncertainty as well as hope for me, and I was driven to portray those feelings through the expression and body language of the painting’s protagonist, combined with the overall mood of the piece." - Michael C Hayes