This large piece was started by drawing a series of circles and shapes in an interesting pattern on the canvas. I was thinking about the final image this time. With the basic shape done, I started adding in color, removing lines here, adding texture there, etc. After a while, I had a rough idea of what it would look like.

Over the next few weeks of painting, faces and other things appeared and disappeared until I finally said enough was enough! I don’t know what to do next! Painting can be frustrating at times, especially when you don’t understand your piece. That’s why an artist should have many canvases in the works at the same time! If you’re discouraged by something, put it away and work on another piece. I guess the title really says it all!

My friend wrote a poem for this painting:

Mother Told Me There Would Be Days Like These

Landscapes frozen
eye-filled
memory be-headed
blown-up
(in the process
of being
blown-up)
catastrophic
destiny
tumult begins
on that ground
in that air
nightmare shards
division
the twilight
"are you alright?"
the rapture
filled up to full
no negotiating these
rapids until
the tornado
shifts away
without reason
    other
towns destroyed
you there in
the bathtub
fully clothed
looking silly
    but alive

Paul Benton