Books And Healing

The words read: Thank you to the authors who have carried me home so many times.

This is one of a pair of book paintings I just completed. They are beautiful lush tributes to the authors who have shaped my life. Filled with natural woodsy hues and subtle unexpected textures. (Monitors vary greatly and I am hopeful the images above appear as colorful to you as they do to me. You might need to lighten your monitor a bit if you are seeing mainly black and missing the deep burgundies, rich reds and warm maple tones that run throughout this painting.) Books And Healing includes words, of course. As so much of my art does these days. Perhaps another nod to the power that books have held over my development. In this case, there is a single sentence painted in small black letters hidden in the lower left. The words read, "Thank you to the authors who have carried me home so many times."

Authors are like magicians. The way they can change the world one person at a time. I owe so much to the books that have kept me company through the years. I am hopeful this unusual abstract will bring comfort and inspiration to some fellow book lover out there who shares my gratitude.

How Books And Healing was created..... This one has a bit of everything thrown into the mix. Palette-knife painting, finger-painting, brush painting, rubbing with cloth, scraping with scrapers, abrading with sharp stuff, engraving with dental tools, etc. It is mostly bold, emotional, gestural painting, but there is also some fine detail work hidden in there, too. This is a really satisfying, beautiful piece. In person, it really draws you in. I am afraid the scans do not do the piece justice.

(This piece was designed so that you can display it without framing if you like. This is a digital photo. The scans above are more accurate.)

Books And Healing was painted on a gallery-wrapped stretched canvas with staple free sides. The image and textures continue around the edges and this piece looks beautiful displayed unframed either directly on the wall or on a small decorative table-top easel.