10 x 8 gouache on illustration board.
Click for details:
The original idea for this piece came from a vague retelling of Orpheus, specifically the point at which he and Eurydice are leaving Hell. I don't make any claims to the exactness of that connection now, of course, as the painting far outgrew its origins into something more generally about loss/loneliness and the consequence of the release of nasties from the bowels of the earth (and the ambiguous little folks that choose to live in its proximity).
This beast is what has kept me inside-- and relatively silent on the interweb-- for the past month or so. It was really wonderful to spend time inside this little space. About an hour after finishing it, I ran into a 2" long patent leather beetle outside-- so similar to the fellow in the immediate lower left it stopped me dead in my tracks-- talk about unsettling. It was a tiny moment of unreality when I worried I had actually unleashed these things into the tangible world.
It was exactly like this fellow, grabbed from Wikipedia. If you ever run into one of these guys, stop and hang out for a bit-- they're weirdly emotive. And if you touch their backs, they'll make squeaky fussy noises at you.
it's wonderful and i guess visceral would be the word that comes to mind. magnificent would sum those up best i think!
Posted by: rachael | September 02, 2008 at 10:27
What can I say-- another masterpiece! Well worth waiting for! I don't think I've ever seen the bowels of the earth rendered in quite so explicit a fashion.
The beetle incident must've been really otherworldly... one can only hope the other critters don't show up to keep him company.
Posted by: Curious Art | September 02, 2008 at 11:18
Wow. There is always so much going on in your pieces.This one is particular reminds me of those pieces by Peter Bruegel with all the peasants running about.
Posted by: Ben Perkins | September 02, 2008 at 12:26
Reminds me of living in Savannah when these little critters would find their way into my works on a daily basis if I was painting outside in the garden. The bowels of the earth... your mind must wander farther than I ever thought of doing myself. genius!
Posted by: kim | September 03, 2008 at 14:40
cool stuff
Posted by: rui vitorino santos | September 13, 2008 at 10:57