February 23, 2009

Truth

(300) Truth
private collection
6 x 8, oil
If I incorporate last post's exercise into this painting, the words describing this young man would be: modest, respectful, wise-beyond-his-years, kind, humble, and unassuming--a lot of words for such a small painting? I find that I most enjoy painting figures who are engaged in an activity, or in some way interacting with their surroundings. Painting a relaxed, natural pose allows me to focus on capturing a gesture, a likeness, a fleeting truth, a moment in time. And to me, painting a figure from this angle creates some degree of mystery, inviting the viewer to ponder such questions as: who is this young man? what are his thoughts, hopes, dreams, wishes as he looks out onto that sparkling, vast body of water?
“To stand at the edge of the sea, to sense the ebb and flow of the tides, to feel the breath of a mist moving over a great salt marsh, to watch the flight of shore birds that have swept up and down the surf lines of the continents for untold thousands of years, to see the running of the old eels and the young shad to the sea, is to have knowledge of things that are as nearly eternal as any earthly life can be"...Rachel Carson

6 comments:

Leslie Saeta said...

The warmth in this painting just jumps out at me! Beautiful colors and great values. Congrats.

Mary Sheehan Winn said...

I realized it had been a while since I'd been over here. Your working is rocking!
Congratulations on your award and may I say you look mah-velous!
These paintings are wonderful.
The water and the figures ring TRUE!
Color harmony is great

Kelley Carey MacDonald said...

Beautiful thoughts, wonderful painting. Makes me want to BE him, wading into that beautiful water. Nice piece.

Marian Fortunati said...

I love this series of paintings of people at the sea...
You ARE capturing a feeling ...
Really nice!

r garriott said...

So many pretty blues... very soothing and fresh!

Jack Riddle said...

Faye--very beautiful. I, too love the blues. The very high horizon, too.