2020  •  31 x 23"  Show size

Acrylic and Paper applied to Cradled Wood Panel

Sometimes, no matter what kind of water is surrounding you....stormy, icy cold, angry, or calm...you just need a little island of happiness. Nothing is perfect but it does help to find a perfect place for yourself within the chaos. For me, it's a little island I can get to in an hour with a small boat or kayak. It's where I go when I really need to unplug. I have phone service there but it's easy to ignore the phone when surrounded by clear waters, lapping waves, and the smell of saltwater. This piece developed through a lot of layers and much of it has been covered over with simpler lines and solid swaths of color, revealing small islands (details, in the middle). This painting is acrylic on paper with my own printed photography included and applied to a cradled wood panel. It has many layers of paint and paper and there are visible purposeful defects. Cuts and tears in the paper reveal painted wood underneath. Lots of detail up close but fairly minimal and impactful from afar. It expresses calm and happiness amidst the chaos.