treehouse
7.5 x 9.5 gouache on illustration board.
I'm in full swing working on pieces for a group show about childhood called "And One to Grow On" going on at G1988LA in May. I've been surprised at how challenging the discovery/planning for these pieces has been-- I usually fancy that a lot of my work has to do with themes (or at least settings) from childhood but when I actually try to confront it face-on my mind's been weirdly resistant and somewhat dark. I'll spare myself any psychoanalysis but it has produced some interesting paintings.
//(I should mention here that I've been dragged deep under the muck with the flu, which has put me out of commission for longer than I'd like to mention and has rattled my brain-bone a little bit, which I think came out in this and a subsequent painting which I will share in a day or two. This may be more of the cause of any childhood-weirdness than anything else, I've come to think.)
Anyway, enough of the yammering. I make no excuses for the sudden darkness of this painting, although it still surprises me. I had a treehouse when I was a kid, and it was one of my favorite things in the world. I guess what most attracted me to it, and what still comes through in this piece these years later, is the mine-ness of that sort of space, and its deliberate. (Although I did have a pulley system to harness and hoist my long-suffering, extremely tolerant best friend of a pug into my treehouse when I got lonely.)
One last note: I'll be giving the aukle birds a rest after this, I swear. I find them irresistible because I just imagine their mindless, constant noises....
One last, last note: while scanning this piece I realize that I neglected to paint legs for those top aukles. Needless to say, I will not be sending them off into the beyond legless, that'll get fixed tonight.
I LOVE this piece!!! Even with the floating aukles, it's wonderfully fantastic. The details are scrumptious and the aukles make it crazy lovely. Can't wait to work with you in the future with Jason :)
Posted by: Christina Conway | March 17, 2008 at 12:03
thanks, Christina! I'm looking forward to it, too.
Posted by: Allison Sommers | March 18, 2008 at 11:11
i have been absolutely obsessed with houses. i love this. i love all of em, though.
Posted by: natasha | March 20, 2008 at 21:37
what a dream! This piece makes me really happy!
your work is so inspirational... I hope you do not mind if I link you from my blog.
cheers!
Posted by: Emily | May 03, 2008 at 15:04