Wednesday, February 02, 2011

Wish You Were Here original mixed media painting

24" by 36" acrylic and mixed media painting.  SOLD

I've been working on this over several months, though not continuously. I was so happy to have it juried into the "Stars of Texas" exhibit in Brownwood, Texas this weekend. I went with a friend to drop off work at 12 and then check in at 4 to find out if they were accepted. We had so much fun killing time...going to antique stores and junk stores. That night, I got an email that the painting above has won an award but they won't reveal specific awards until Saturday at the opening. They requested a statement about it to show alongside the painting. I thought I'd share it below.

"I’ve had a fascination with fish bowls for a long time. In fact, one of my earliest memories is of my hand grasping a fish in a cold water. I’m not sure if that one survived but the deaths of subsequent pet fish (though not by my hand) were my first lessons in mortality. I think of “Wish You Were Here” as part of a still life painting tradition called Vanitas which dates from 16th and 17th century Netherlands. It’s a reminder of the brevity of life while enjoying it’s fleeting pleasures. While there are other ideas bound up in this painting, I hope the visual properties of it to be the most important. The text and map collage are woven into the paint like the many thoughts and influences that are a part of the act of looking."

5 comments:

Amber Cauley said...

I love this! No wonder it won an award, its fantastic! I love your fish bowl paintings. Something I would never think to paint!

LindaHunt said...

Congratulations on an award...this is a lovely painting! In particular,the pink bowl speaks to me! The statement is interesting and reads well.

Polly Jones said...

You guys are the kindest! Thanks for the encouragement. Linda the pink bowl is so great in real life. It's a Luray from the 50's I suppose. Sadly it's cracked so I don't use it for food so much.

Jerry Stocks said...

I love the way you painted the refraction of the fish bowl with the mat underneath. Well done and let us know which prize you won.

Athena said...

Hello, I've just found your blog through the Etsy 'Get the Look' feature. This really is a wonderful painting, and so beautifully thought out. Hooray for you!