STOP, LOOK AND THINK #5

Dear Reader,

This is the fifth blog in my series, which is written to offer another way to experience art. Please give yourself several minutes to do this activity. One of my paintings is below with a set of 3 instructions. STOP, LOOK AND THINK before you scroll down to each section. There are no right or wrong responses, so it can be a win-win experience.

1. Here is the painting. STOP and LOOK at it for a few minutes. Stay with the image. Take a few deep breaths and pay attention to your feelings and thoughts. Positive? Negative? A confused mix of emotions? Nothing at all? What’s going on in your gut? Is anything going on you can recognize or relate to?

2. Some basic facts about my painting: Title: “Environment Ten.” It is mixed media on board, 11” by 11” and was created in 2002. This information may or may not verify or affect your first response. My title allows you to edge into my world and has specific meaning for me, because there is a story behind it which is unknown to you. Before scrolling down to step 3, THINK about your first response (image only) and compare it to your feelings. Put the basic information you have and relate it to the image.

3. Here is the story. This painting came to mind as I searched for a December blog subject. Environments is a series of nearly 40 works where I explored macro and microcosms, as well as more traditional representations of towns and cities. You can view other examples by clicking on Gallery from my website home page, then choosing Chapter 1. Several more Environments are scattered throughout the Gallery Chapters. Few had people in them, until the tenth one. And there was one fellow, waving good-bye at me. He and his companions were on their way out. I thought, “How appropriate for December 2020.” You, too, may have noticed a wave of visualizations welcoming the end of this year. I join everyone – beginning with my three characters - in the search for renewed energy and hope to meet the challenges of 2021.