Happiness Released - 30" x 40", acrylic on canvas
Happiness Released - 30" x 40", acrylic on canvas
Loose Ends
Looks can be deceiving.
What appears to be a framed photo of a dog on a beach, leaning against a wall is worth another look. Because in front of it are a Vans shoe and a ball of yarn, which are reflected, mirror-like in the image. But wait ... the ball of yarn which is on the floor, unwinds, right into the picture.
Is it a mirror? Is it a picture? And what is the dog looking at as it stares out at the ocean? Look a little closer and you'll see two figures, swimming in the waves.
Truly there are some loose ends going on in this painting that with a proper story, might be all tied together.
Brave New World
With the Coronavirus still running rampant and protests against racial inequality at a fever pitch, I thought to myself, "How would a child view what's going on in the world?" The Moody Blues had a song called, "Through the eyes of a child" and somehow, the thought of a child looking out the window, staring at the earth above a bank of clouds popped into my mind. This is the fifth painting I've done that has somehow been tied to the coronavirus. There is a certain innocence of this young boy in his pajamas looking out a very oversize window and viewing the earth from afar. It makes no sense. It makes perfect sense. If we would all open our eyes to the beauty and wonder of this earth and view it with the complete innocence that only a child can have, our world would truly be a better place.
Cloud Station #59
A lighthouse sits atop a bank of clouds, shining its light out into the unknown. For some reason, I had a lighthouse image in my mind and knew I had to do something with it. The thought of the lighthouse shining out into the sky rather than the sea seemed like an interesting thought. Essentially, this is almost a minimalist painting - and yet there's a lot going on. To me, the title of the painting implies that there are more of these lighthouses on different cloud banks around the world.
Once Upon A Time In The Giants Causeway
To me there is a certain timelessness to the Giants Causeway in Northern Ireland. Having a sad, peasant girl standing atop a giant boulder creates story appeal. Why is she standing atop the rock? And what is she staring at off in the distance? Though a departure from my traditional surrealistic ways, this still has a certain surrealistic feel to it. It was a joy to create and I hope you enjoy it!
Wishful Thinking
A tree stump in the shape of a candle sits on the edge of a table near a window, looking out on a glorious oak tree that is in full fall foliage. The candle/tree stump has a flame - only it's a golden leaf that seems to be pointed towards the old oak tree. Is it yearning to be out with all the other leaves? Wishful thinking on its part as the roots/candle wax are anchored into the table itself.
Once In A Blue Moon
A young girl stands on a beach, looking out at the ocean, holding some daisies behind her back on a gorgeous night, lit by the moon. Only the blue moon is not a moon, it's a blue rose, adding a sense of magic to the night as something like this only comes along, "Once In A Blue Moon".
Somewhere In Belgium
A man in a bowler hat is seated on a park bench, in front of a statue of a man in a bowler hat. This painting contains numerous references to my favorite artist, Rene Magritte who created many paintings featuring a man in a bowler hat. The base of the statue reads, "HERE STANDS THE MAN" in Dutch and below that are Magritte's birth and death years. Lions and owls were both featured in several Magritte paintings and they show up here as statues. The night time sky contrasts with the daytime setting of the park area, combining night and day into one image.
The Last Tree
A giant oak tree sits on top of a massive rock formation off the shore of a beach. There is a turbulent sky overhead as men in black carrying briefcases approach the giant rock, oblivious of the water around them. What is in their briefcases? Why are they approaching the rock formation? And why is this, "The Last Tree"?
Above The Clouds
A man in a canoe, decked out in outdoor wear is literally above the clouds. The clouds have a pinkish-purplish look to them which seems at odds to the man's wooden canoe and overall outdoors-y look.
The juxtaposition of the relatively free flowing cloud formations against the rigidity of the canoe and its rower seem at odds.
The color palette is strange.
The angles are weird.
The whole concept is almost dreamlike.
L'il Luna
A little girl holding a lantern has stumbled upon the moon that has fallen from the sky and landed in the forest. Is she L'il Luna? Or is the moon itself, which appears to be quite small, actually L'il Luna. It matters not. Though dark, this painting holds the promise of magic. To me, it's like a fairy tale and continues my quest to paint the impossible - or at least the highly improbable!
Out Of The Blue
A spiral staircase rises out of the ocean. At its top, stands a woman in a long, red dress, staring out at the horizon. There is nothing else, other than her, the staircase, the sky and the water.
This is my second painting involving a staircase. But for some reason, this one feels quite different. I wanted the blues to be vibrant. The staircase itself is an unusual looking spiral staircase, based on a photo I saw while looking for imagery. Some people ask me where I get my ideas. Quite often, it's a combination of thoughts, put together in a single image.
I am a big fan of sky, water and clouds. The simplicity of this image is striking.
