This is such a unique piece.  For some time now, I have been working at blurring the lines between abstract and illustrative art, between poetry and visual art, between reality and fantasy.  And this painting is my most successful experiment yet in "artistic fusion".  It is a playful, imaginative little gem filled with exciting textured and sweet lines.  It also continues my interest in the subtle inclusion of language in art with two phrases painted in tiny, camouflaged letters.  The words read, "I live in a clearing in the forest in the jungle in the past.  And the only way you can find me is if I draw you a map."

I am hopeful that this whimsical celebration of privacy and nature will bring a bit of magic to your home or office.

How this painting was created...  First I primed the "deep dish" canvas with black gesso and then I coated it with acrylic modeling past.  I carefully pulled a palette knife across the surface to create some active, natural textures and then used a paint scraper to clear a small area of all texture and create a "flat" window for the castle.  Next, I used eight or nine shades of green to create a wild, fun, expressionist abstract design across the entire canvas and around the sides.  Then I broke out the teeny detail brushes and went to work on the castle.  It took me several attempts to come up with a castle that was simple and clean but also whimsical and filled with interesting shapes and lines.  Finally, I painted four separate leaf shapes and added the words. 

The phrases in this piece came to me in a dream.  I woke up and wrote them on a notepad by my bed about a month ago.  I think there are a many of us who secretly dream of hiding away in some beautiful private place.

ORIGINAL ARTWORK

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