20″X16″, Pastel on Gray Paper
As a representational artist, I’m fascinated by the ambiguity of beauty. Any human experience that might be called “beautiful”, be it an encounter with nature, or experiencing a work of art or music, is often tinged with a variety of emotions. A sunset may evoke memories of lost friends, music can transport us back to difficult periods in our lives, and a beautiful painting may remind us of happier times, now out of reach. This dissonance in the experience of beauty is what gives it depth. Without it, beauty becomes trite and shallow. A cliché. A greeting card.
“Breezeway” captures this ambiguity. It portrays a moment of anticipation and trepidation as my wife and I prepared to meet friends for the first time post-lockdown. The late afternoon sun highlights her hair and glasses, symbolizing a beckoning world. Yet, her expression and hesitation at the door, and the cool light in front, remind us of a lingering pandemic and an uncertain future.
