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| Cultivation, oil on canvas board, 16x20 |
In the future not too distant
I will definitely need an assistant.
In the back I'm growing one.
He needs water, he needs sun.
Arms are sprouting, one eye's opening.
He'll have a brain--that's what I'm ahoping.
When he's ripe among the rose mallow
I'll probably need a large wheelbarrow.
I got new oil paints; it's been about thirty years since I've painted with regular oils--they're nice and buttery. On an old primed canvas board I tried them out. A head shape on the lower right; then what? I thought of giving him a dog's short compact body and a long leash. I thought of having a torso on a spring--maybe several. Yellow rubber boots popped into my head. Someone would be watering a planted torso; that would require a hose. Wild rose mallows are blooming alongside my driveway so they were added along with the ivy. Being from the South, a painting like this requires a story; I had to make one up so I made it into a poem. (I might have watched too many Twilight Zones when I was young.)
There is a painting by de Chirico of a torso and yellow bananas; it's in THE ART BOOK. I suspect that triggered the thought of yellow boots. Today I googled de Cherico--interesting artist; I think he inspired surrealism. I am also reminded now of Gaugin's leaves strewn around some of his portraits.
A guest is arriving next weekend, an old friend who's a psychologist--I should probably keep this painting under wraps.
Posts
The poem makes the painting "make sense" to me. Actually, the yellow boots make me smile and the torso makes me wonder about your psyche - I would definitely share this painting with your friend!
ReplyDeleteHi Robin. I think I enjoy puzzles--starting with an oddly placed head was fun. I've known my friend since high school; I was a bit off way back then.
DeleteHallie- I love this oil painting! The oils really shine with your style of work. Amazing the difference. Classic Farber. Of course I love all the mediums you work with but this oil is a standout.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't it be great to grow an assistant? Hope he does have a brain! I think this is the first poem I've seen of yours. You are a natural talent in all respects!
The yellow boots make the painting. The viewer is left to wonder about the identity of the person who is watering. Macabre, whimsical, with excellent composition.
Like I said... classic Farber.
PAMO, thank you. I think I put off painting with oils because I knew I'd feel at home and not try anything else. I enjoyed this and, when I look at paintings, I always like the ones that make me wonder.
DeleteThe torso was going to be sort of ill-defined until I happened to see a photo of David Beckham yesterday (for a shirtless commercial). I took that as a sign that there should be a bit of muscle and a scowl.
I wouldn't really call this a poem, but thanks. I'll leave the writing to you.
YES--! This is outstanding! I love everything about it. It made me smile. It is soooo weird. I absolutely love it. I love the shadow of the hose on the boots--I do believe the only way you could have gotten that so well is with OIL. It's just gorgeous--all of it. Love the dark watery dirt that the torso is in. Don't let the head doctor see this! haha!
ReplyDeleteCeleste, thank you. I should have omitted the story--you could have come up with a better one. The oils are nice; I like that they don't dry out on the palette overnight. Seeing your paintings made me want to go back to oils--my first art class was in oil painting--in 1962!! Then I detoured into sculpting.
DeleteYour last couple of sentences had me laughing out loud, Hallie. I have to say I do love the way your mind works.
ReplyDeleteHi CrimsonLeaves. My mind is usually mired in darkness; I have to work at finding that lightness. Glad I made you laugh.
DeleteOh yes, let the psych see it.
ReplyDeleteI, for one, love it!
Hi SamArtDog. It's possible he's already seen it. Thank you.
DeleteThis is classic Hallie with great poetry to top it off! I like hearing how your mind works. Great highlights on the yellow boots. They really shine. Your friend would probably be delighted to find that you stayed true to yourself.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mary. It's fun to look at a finished work and try to determine where the parts originated--I can only guess. I suppose our art is influenced by everything we've seen or felt.
DeleteWhat a fun painting. And I like your poem. And the yellow boots with the pink flowers. You trying to grow a man reminds me of the movie the Rocky Horror Picture Show where Frankenfurter was trying to make a man! I hope you are more successful. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Carol--my neighbors are keeping an eye on my back yard since their bedroom window is near my wild rosé mallows. I missed the Rocky show since I didn't know how to explain a midnight movie to my husband.
DeleteI just looked at your blog; I've visited before because I remember the Victoria Beckham/Brooklyn post--your blog is fun and informative; now I'm a follower. I might have to try masa paper--great work.
Love it! And it is surreal and makes me want to know the story :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Rhonda. Next time I'll replace the hose with a shovel--another story.
ReplyDelete