West Valley Fiction

[Artyczar]

Finally finished this yesterday: West Valley Fiction, 2025. Oil on birch panel, 24 x 24 inches.

 

[PaintBoss]

Arty, your art always looks like it should be wholesome and sweet, but there’s always so much more going on in the undercurrents. You are not afraid to visually imply more serious themes in your work. It’s an incredible combination. That’s a brave artist, and I’ve seen it many times in your work. I’m going back to study it some more.

 

[Donna T]

The word "fiction" is a powerful clue to the meaning behind this one, Arty. What a compelling image; definitely something that requires more than a quick glance. I like how the birch panel stands in for the background. The fact that it matches the skin tones depicted is an interesting design element too.

 

[Bongo]

One of your very best. So well painted, detailed without being superfluous - all in service of the image. And something done on a knife's edge, a balancing act; you've not hidden, but celebrated the fact that this was based on a photo, keeping the aspects that make family snapshots so enduring, while translating them into a polished oil painting. Along with your patented quirks, is that a fire or a bush behind the girl, a bit of "spittle" on her lip, a popped eye on the boy...

 

[Enyaw]

Firstly, thank you Ayin. The image fits my browser without scrolling. Nice to see the comp. We paint so differently yet the same. I like how you use what I call portals to transfer the eye to different dimensions. Ex of what I call a portal ... The roadway between the fence and tree is right on. It opens you to depth. Your facial expression of I have hope is priceless. Great piece.

 

[john]

Unnerving. Moody. Thought provoking. Unbalanced to add to the warped mood. Nearly a nightmare but not quite which somehow makes it more disturbing.

Great art.

 

[PaintBoss]

Great description John.

 

[Artyczar]

Ok, WOW. I didn't expect these reactions and words. Now I feel like this is a successful painting, as it's doing what I intended, which is a rare feat.

Christine, I can't thank you enough for your response to this. I don't know about "brave," but I think it comes from resentment or something. I'm not sure since it's all intuitive. Sometimes I don't even know what I'm doing really.

Donna, thank you! I dove deep to find the perfect title for this. It was a "posed" photograph. Most photos aren't real though.

Bongo! Thank you for your description. It is both wonderful and helpful to me. I trule wanted to read as a fire, but a couple of people wrn't sure. I wonder what I can do to it to make it definitely read fire. Any suggestions are very welcome.

Wayne, I made it a lot smaller for you in particular. Thank you for your very kind and thoughtful words. I'm blushing!

John, Thank you as well. I'm glad it's disturbing because it sure wasn't meant to be a "nice" painting of me and my brother! LOL!!!!

 

[PaintBoss]

Well Arty, I guess I see this as brave because those of us that could tap into something to paint, are not necessarily brave enough to make it and put it out there. For instance, I think I would be feeling very exposed to have to talk about it if it was on a gallery wall, or I’d have to say just enough in the artist description divulging more of my private pass then I maybe was comfortable with. I think it’s important work to be done because art is more than just pretty little pictures. I think it can be the most powerful type of artwork. But there were time, especially in my 20s and 30s where I wasn’t ready to have the conversation with others. To be critiqued on it. I was still coming to terms with it myself.So yeah, I think it takes guts! I also think it gets easier for us to do the older.
In fact, my husband says the best work I ever did and the most powerful was the drawing I did for my psychologist when I was in my 40s. And it had nothing to do with making anything look proficient. It was also the hardest artwork I ever had to start on. I remember staring at the blank paper and wondering what I was going to do and how was I going to enter the drawing. How do you sum up your life? Or a very important part of your life. It was an incredible challenge.But once I got going, it was no problem. That work was like a little emotional bomb in the corner of my room curled up on newsprint. And thinking about it, I could cry. Because it got me right in touch with the little girl in me. Psychologist had planned on burning it and some sort of ritual to help free things up, but then she realized she couldn’t do it on the commercial property that she was on. And I didn’t know what to do with it, but I’m glad I kept it now. It’s somewhere here. If I find it someday maybe I’ll post it because I am able to talk about it now.
And I hope you don’t mind me saying, but I thought perhaps it was a piece of your life in your painting. And when you stated it was your brother and yourself, I felt like you cry for you too.
That’s powerful.

 

[Artyczar]

Thank you, Christine, for your story and for making your point. I see it now. You're right, because I WILL have to talk about the work when they are all up on the gallery wall. I'm petrified, but I know I don't have to reveal anything I don't feel comfortable with. I can do both: be guarded and open at the same time. I think it really helps artists to write about their work, as it gives them a sense of how to discuss it with others. I've been doing a lot of that (writing) lately. But I just want to thank you for your insights. It makes me feel like my work has some intrinsic value.

 

[snoball]

This turned out to be a very interesting painting. It invites imagination as to what is going on and what was intended. Sometimes I think it must be scary inside your head.

 

[Artyczar]

Ha ha! Thanks sno. Yes, it is very scary in there!