After a Morning Row.

After a Morning Row.
48x60"

​The first painting of 2023 exemplifies some current trends in my painting and marked a vibrant and exciting start to 2023. Not only that, but the painting was accepting in the Trout Museum of Arts Contemporary Juried exhibition, my third time getting a painting into the competitive show and second time I'll be able to participate. 

First off, the actual time taken to create the painting was much more extended than the frantic three-paintings-per-week I was doing during the pandemic. Altogether the painting spent about a month in an incomplete state, a long time period for me, especially never having restarted or painted over large portions. In addition to the timeline, the painting displays less use of water and a brightness that isn't largely present in the series. The palette as a whole, though similar, is a bit more impactful, or a least impactful differently than the Pandemic Paintings, many of which tended to be more somber. Lastly, the figure itself does not have the characteristic "wetsuit" that become a staple of the Pandemic Painting figures, opting for a comparably more naturalistic portrayal.

There are basically two ways to view the scene and interpret the title that I had in mind by the end of the process. In one it is a rather simple image depicting a moment of rest amongst nature after a morning boat ride, the other uses the british definition of "row", or fight, and changes a beautiful and relaxing scene to one of tension and conflict. A glimpse of another figure can be seen exiting the frame; is this figure leaving the scene of a fight or simply walking to shore? Is the figure in the boat taking a moment for themself or recovering from a moment of aggression? In light of this, is the surrounding scene a tumultuous roar or a serene lake view?

After a Morning Row is currently up at the Trout Museum of Art Contemporary Juried Exhibition and is available for purchase. I am in the process of building a shop so keep an eye out for a post in the future with all the details you'll need! In the meantime, feel free to reach out if you'd like to inquire about purchasing this painting. 

View of the TMA Contemporary Juried Exhibition.