This painting is too large to scan in its entirety.  The first and last images are digital photos.  Please see the detailed scans for a more accurate representation of the colors and textures that comprise this original painting.

I Live

Completed in 2004

11" x14"

Acrylic on stretched canvas

(Details)

(The staple-free sides are painted black.)

This beautiful abstract painting continues my interest in the subtle inclusion of language in art.  There are five phrases in this painting, each contained in their own boxes, and they read, "I live", "by my heart", "by my soul", "with no fear", "I live".  This piece has a nice clean, elegant composition and layers of subtle hues.  The words are both "engraved" in the painting with a dental tool and painted on the surface with a teensy brush.

There is a recurring theme of words in boxes that can be seen in many of my recent works.  In just the past few days, I have begun to form my own understanding of this theme.  To me, it has to do with the way in which we each define our identities.  We all have many different impulses, feelings, personality traits, character flaws, etc. , and I am coming to believe that the boxes we draw around certain traits are more defining then the traits themselves.  I may be both generous and selfish, but by focusing on my generosity, I begin to see myself only as generous - even though I am both - or by focusing on my selfishness, I see myself only as selfish.  I am really fascinated by the way I pick and choose which things deserve to be isolated - in a box all their own - and which I allow to bleed into a sea of so many unnoticed traits.  I think the key to success and lasting happiness is in honing the skills that allow us to choose our own definitions.

I Live was painted on a large 11" x 14" stretched canvas with staple-free sides.  It is designed to be displayed unframed, though you are certainly encouraged to frame it to protect your investment if you so choose.  All acrylic paintings are created with professional grade, high-viscosity acrylic paint on surfaces primed with black acrylic gesso unless otherwise noted.  This painting is offered unframed.

This piece is truly hopeful and inspirational and my hope is that it will bring a positive warm light to any home or work space.

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