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Monday, November 5, 2012

Peculiar Picture #16

 
Here’s a picture I painted a few years ago. The inspiration came from a photograph taken in a stairwell in Florence, Italy. The initial illustration seemed incomplete and I was at a loss trying to figure out what the composition needed. I set it aside. Several years later I dug out the unfinished illustration and figured out what was missing.
      
Painted with acrylic on untempered masonite, I used glazes to build up the translucent darkness from a mixture of viridian green and alizarin crimson; no black was used. I approved of the dark mood, inspired by the backgrounds in many of Rembrandt’s paintings, but the painting lacked an emotional counter punch. So I added the balloon.
      
This illustration has never been sold and seen by only a handful of people, until now. What does it mean? I have an idea, but what do you think?

I hope you’ve moved over to the new Chubby Chatterbox. This site will be closing shortly.

41 comments:

  1. I think it's like the prison in "The Dark Knight Rises" where the hole at the top with the balloon is supposed to give you hope about rising out of the darkness or something.

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  2. Well what do you know, I can comment here today and you are leaving. Go figure!

    I think that painting is a means of escape. PT said it very well.

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  3. I like the colors of the balloon above the dark stairs. More interesting would have been a big eye peering down.

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  4. I have the feeling that the ballon is going into the hole rather than leaving it. Maybe the fun is over and now it's time for reality?

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  5. I think it is stunning. You have a creative mind and a wonderful skill to express it! To me it is escape as well. But escape into something free and beautiful.

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  6. Escaping the darkness. Freedom. That's what it says to me.

    Have a terrific day. :)

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  7. Very appealing! It definitely feels like coming out of the darkness into something better. Perhaps it's just the political climate right now, but I also couldn't help but notice that the balloon is painted red, white, and blue. Symbolic of our freedoms?

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  8. Stairway to a better life. Stairway out of darkness to a newer world.

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  9. Terrific picture- you are so talented. It reminds me of hope arising.

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  10. love it .. imagination at its best

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  11. it looks like there's joy in the sky. and hope if we take the time to look up.

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  12. The hot air balloon is either coming in for a landing or going to drop their slop pail down there.

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  13. It kind of looks like something that would be on a poster for that new Wizard of Oz movie. Incredible painting to say the least. And I agree with PT about The Dark Knight Rises reference.

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  14. Very different.....Like the light at the end of the tunnel.

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  15. My thoughts mirror Sandee's. It's a very strong image.

    S

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  16. When I first saw it, I was confused. This image is small & I saw the balloon as the top of a tower, upside down--very Escher-like. Now that I know it's a balloon, I see "freedom" in the painting. I'm really not sure which way I prefer.

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  17. Your pictures are always so thought provoking. I guess to me it says, you have to work hard to reach your dreams...but they are always within reach...just keep trying.

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  18. Wait! What?

    The NEW Chatterbox? How did I miss this, can you point me in the right direction?

    BTW....the painting reminds me of man's ever-present and never ending struggle to attain new heights!

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  19. A glimpse of care-free, brightly colored childhood through the dark, regimented lens of an adult.

    Or maybe I've had too much Rioja with my evening meal!

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  20. OMG...that's beautiful. I would so love to just pick your brain on acrylics. I have so many questions. I recently bought a great easel and am thinking of investing in paints. Would you go with illustration board or is masonite the way to go? I have no idea where I'd even find masonite. And do you need to prepare it, like with gesso? And how do glazes work?

    Sigh. I really need to sign up for an art class.

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  21. It does emit the feeling of escaping or freedom. The colorful balloon is the total opposite of the dark passageway. Your illustrations are always so interesting.

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  22. Super cool surreal painting, Stephen. I like it! It does imply a narrative and you're just the guy to write it.

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  23. Now that I think of it, I'm not sure if I am on your new site; I don't have a link to it.....

    this is an interesting painting. I'm thinking stairway to freedom, but otherwise not too sure!

    betty

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  24. The wizard left Oz. Tap your heels together, Dorothy. There's no place like home.

    Love,
    Janie

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  25. It's wonderful. I love the perspective.

    xoRobyn

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  26. dont have a clue, but it is a very cool painting. Hot air rises...out of the bowels of the earth, hope springs...a prisoner's dream of escape. ????

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  27. I had an idea, but PT nailed it. What a perfect meaning.
    Much better than my "You dumb bastard, couldn't you have picked out a better landing spot!!??"

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  28. I don't much care what it means because I so love the curves, colors, and shadowing that it's a rich experience for me with them alone. Still, I'm vaguely curious about what it means to you.

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  29. It's fabulous, whatever it means. My first thought was that hope rises.

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  30. You always ask such tough questions. I've looked at this one and I'm drawing a blank.

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  31. As Snow insight-fully asked: What does it mean to you?

    To me, it represents a man who had no idea at the time and wisely set it aside. Years later this man had grown to have insight, inspiration, and a balloon was created!

    I never used black when I used to paint, choosing instead to create it using color to enhance the feel of heat or coolness.

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  32. I am not good at this but will take a stab . . .this is a vision of hope . . of what can be achieved . . . what the possibilities are if you work at it (climbing all those stairs to reach the balloon. I had no idea you were such an accomplished artists. I think this is a beautiful piece of art!

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  33. Like it a lot, "there is a world out there?"

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  34. Wow, I love it. As I've mentioned before, I'm no art critic, but I love the contrast with the dark staircase and the balloon. Would love to see more of your art!

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  35. Well, i shall be sad to see this site go - but will certainly be checking in at Chubby Chatterbox 2: Revenge Of The Chatterbox

    This image makes me think of a Terry Gilliam film - really like it

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  36. It's gorgeous! I'm always in awe of people who can paint and draw.

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  37. The balloon lures my eyes up and makes me want to know what else awaits at the top of the stairs. It's wonderful.

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  38. Hahah. You were probably justified, although I would have used the word "hypocrite". Meh- tomato/ tom-ah-to. I'm glad she eventually went to Israel though. I went a couple years ago, and it's a beautiful place.

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  39. Light at the end of the tunnel. The way may be dreary but the end reward will be sweet. Or.....fly me away.

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