If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things.
— Rene Descartes
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As it neared completion, this new painting felt like it was about a questioning of some sort. The Red Tree here seems to be casting doubt over the reality that is before it and even its own reality. The question might be: Shall I hide in the darkness or stand in the light?
I call this 12″ by 12″ canvas Doubt the Darkness and I think it speaks to this question. Darkness often obscures our perception of things and raises doubts in us as to what is and is not real. Darkness is an agent of doubt and fear. But by casting our own doubt and light upon that darkness we come to understand that it only hides that which was already there and does not bring anything more with it.
Its only power over us is our own doubting of what we know is there.
Okay, maybe that’s too much for me to try to make sense of so early in the morning. But even if it seems like gibberish when you read this, I hope you’ll at least take a look at the painting and try to to find something for yourself in it that makes sense. Maybe you’ll even see what I was babbling about.
This is a new painting that will be accompanying me to next Saturday’s Gallery Talk at the Principle Gallery in Alexandria, VA. It runs on September 17th from one until about 2 PM. There will be some new work along with a select group of older pieces from the studio at this talk and, as has been tradition over the past several years, there will be a drawing at the end of the talk where one of the folks in attendance will win an original painting. I will be sharing more details in the next few days.
It’s usually a lot of fun and I hope you’ll try to make it to this year’s talk.
Redtree Times 