I mentioned here earlier that I am giving a Gallery Talk next Saturday at the Kada Gallery in Erie. When I give one of theses talks it is not uncommon for me to bring a small group of new work for the gallery. One of the pieces that is heading to Erie with me is this painting, a 24″ by 20″ canvas that is titled Away From the Chaos.
Actually, I should say that it was titled Away From the Chaos.
You see, this painting started its life several years ago in a much different form. It was a piece that showed just once for a very short stay in a gallery then moved to the wall of my studio where it has been ever since. It was one of those pieces that seemed to be right in the moment but was just missing that something which kept me from making contact with it. It was like a person who has experienced a stroke and has full cognizance with much to share but just can’t make the person in front of them understand.
And I was that person who couldn’t understand. I could see there was something in it. Life and emotion. But muted and totally restrained. The colors of its sky felt pointy and sharp to me–a sickly yellow that didn’t add depth in the image and gave the whole thing a green pallor that belied what I felt was the emotion behind the painting.
So for years, I would go into the room that held this painting and feel a sickening, uneasy pang whenever my eyes settled on it. It made me sad that it seemed there physically but was so far away.
Finally, a week ago, I could take it no more and decided to either revive it or kill it. The sky transformed in depth and color, becoming warmer and more giving. The fields brightened. The brightness of its color and the roof line of the barn changed as I altered one edge that always felt wrong to me– a small flaw but one that became larger when combined with the others.
And the Red Tree made its way to a central point where it truly became the welcoming symbol that I often see it as. It suddenly felt so much more alive and complete. It could reach out now and communicate to me. And that’s a comforting thing for me.
The old title no longer seemed appropriate. I settled on Making Contact. Now it seems right.
This painting can be seen at the Kada Gallery next Saturday, April 11, where I will be giving a Gallery Talk which begins at 1 PM. If you can make it, please stop in– we will be having a free drawing for one of my original paintings and a few other goodies. I am aiming for an entertaining and , hopefully, an enlightening talk. Hope to see you there.
Redtree Times 