Between Two Worlds28 x 40
oil on sized panel
2009-2010
Some paintings just take longer than others. I let this one sit for a few months until I felt ready to bring it on home, so to speak. I pushed hard to complete it this week and I'm pleased with the results.
This painting, with the fire on the horizon, is really about two things. First, we've had some devastating fires in California the past few years and I wanted to represent the beautiful, yet terrifying fire-skies in paint. Second, it's about the transitory state we're all in, perched between land and sky, watching and waiting.
The title comes from an exquisite early album by Patrick O'Hearn, whose music has been filling my studio and head for years.
This painting, with the fire on the horizon, is really about two things. First, we've had some devastating fires in California the past few years and I wanted to represent the beautiful, yet terrifying fire-skies in paint. Second, it's about the transitory state we're all in, perched between land and sky, watching and waiting.
The title comes from an exquisite early album by Patrick O'Hearn, whose music has been filling my studio and head for years.
Hi Denny, it is a haunting image and for me reflects much about the world I have experienced this week, including but not directly, Haiti devastation...hoping all goes well for you this new year, and we are overdue for coffee soon!?
ReplyDeleteKit
Wow. It turned out even more amazing than I could have imagined. The two birds in the distance are breathtaking. And the light touching the branch is a beautiful touch. I can't wait to see this up close in person!
ReplyDeleteKit~ I think this painting works on many emotional levels (at least for me) and I'm really glad to be done with it. It was almost like I was afraid to finish it for what ever reason.
ReplyDeleteLet's do coffee in early February,I want to hear about Chris's photography workshop with the airship!
Becca Bugs~ I'm glad you like it, you've seen this one in various stages. But enough with the heavy-handed imagery, today I'm starting a painting of the Doggie Diner head! Oh, did mom tell you I got my new amp? Our neighbors are gonna hate me!
ReplyDeleteHey, I really like this one Denny, although the fire reference is a little disconcerting given recent events down under! All the best.
ReplyDeleteNow this is art on fire! Beautiful piece. I love the perfect symbolism of the Raven and the otherworld and your blazing colors. Are you familiar with Lars Jonsson, Swedish bird artist? I know you would live his work. I have an image of his new book on my blog.
ReplyDeletePete~ thanks so much...we do share a lot of the same fire danger as you do in the Perth area, unfortunately. Drought, dry conditions, etc. all play into it. Fortunately we're getting our rain now.
ReplyDeleteNice Santa suit by the way!
Donna~ I think I'm going to enter this into the Arts on Fire exhibit this year! Ha ha ha. I'll check out Lars' book on your blog- thanks for the tip!
ReplyDeleteDenny this is so Powerful in many ways. I loved the explanation of it. It really made me look at it again and think deeply about it. Just haunts me the way that bird is perched there. Well done. I love it...
ReplyDeleteps. Hear Understars2 by Eno yday..pity not longer..
April, thank you. Hey~ Eno's the man, I've been trying to get my youngest Emily into his work.
ReplyDeleteThere's an Understars 2? I heard him speak in San Francisco years ago, fascinating man and very deep, but also humble.
I know what you mean..I am trying to get mine into the Beatles, Eagles etc. No hope. It's on my playlist at uglyrabbit...scroll down.it's lovely...just too short!
ReplyDeleteOr try this link..
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BA4OnoukSo
Denny-
ReplyDeleteThe painting looks amazing! I think the metaphor is timely even though it is raining here today!
David @ Ashfield Hansen Design
David~ thank you, man!! Yeah, these storms are incredible, I'm loving the sky right now!
ReplyDeleteDenny, When I enlarged your image, it seemed to me that I misidentified your bird as a raven. The bill seems small, and the tail not wedge shaped. What bird is it?
ReplyDeleteDonna~ it is a raven, the beak and tail are foreshorted at this point of view. Thanks for the Lars tip, we can only hope to reach that level in our work as painters.
ReplyDeleteDenny, it turned out so awesome. The light and heaviness in different places shows all that devastation and hope at the same time. Wow.
ReplyDeleteBabby
Babby~ thank you...see you Sunday for a celebratory pint at the Pelikan Inn!
ReplyDeleteOops, I meant Pelican...Pelikan makes pens and inks. I always get those confused.
ReplyDeleteLars is a great artist, and a nice guy. I had the privilege of spending about a week with him when he tagged along on a birding trip I was on in Alaska in 1985 for a month. He sketched a gyrfalcon in the field at a nest that we saw outside Nome, then when back in the van he discovered he had lost his sketch book. Everyone was upset. Later he did beautiful sketches at Gambel on St. Lawrence Island of seabirds, shorebirds and gulls, like Ross' Gull. Glad you got to see his work. I knew it would resonate with you.
ReplyDeleteStartling capture of the mood of a fire. I did not realize being an East coast transplant and only seeing fires in CA in the news, Just how fearsome and impressive they could be in person. Saw a hillside ablaze here a few years ago that changed my outlook on them. They ignite a primal fear and something else a little harder to explain. Nice work. Daniel
ReplyDeleteThanks, Daniel....primal is right, I think that about sums it up.
ReplyDelete