36 x 48

Oil on Canvas

Shadow Frame

Last summer, just because we thought they looked cool, and had never done it, we bought some paper lanterns with a tiny candle in them that you release once they are lit. The hot air from the candle carries the light weight of the paper balloon and when they are released it is just magical. This summer we released them for my in-laws 50th wedding anniversary and we released them then again during my family reunion at Nimrod. Every single face, bar none, was just filled with awe and delight. Why is that? Why does it do that to us? All it is is a glowing bag of air floating in the sky,  but it is simply magical. True to myself, I created a series of work practically before they burned out. This one is the largest piece and I look at it and get that magical feeling all over again.  Children, Middle Aged People, Old People- every single person was simply mesmerized. The painting does not do it justice but I'm proud of it nonetheless.

People ask me all the time about the no faces in my paintings and it is simple, the specific face is not what is interesting to me, it is the fact that it represents all people or capturing one with a few simple strokes of the paint. THAT is fun, but worrying with all the features when my interest in is the scene is just irrelevant to me.  When anyone sees paintings of my kids that I've done they are stunned to find that I can paint a face because I guess it seems like I can't when it is just a choice.

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