MichaelWhelan , to random
@MichaelWhelan@mastodon.art avatar

MOON'S WINDOW (2007)
Acrylic on Panel - 7" X 5"

This window was suggested by shapes at the Whitby Abbey, Lincolnshire England. (Nothing to do with the painting, but Whitby is where Count Dracula landed when he arrived in England...)

https://www.michaelwhelan.com/galleries/moons-window/

The warm glow of the morning sun hits the rough stone facade of abbey ruins. Delicate wildflowers of pink and blue grow on the step. A view through a thin pointed arch exposes a sequence of similar arches with the final arch broken and incomplete as it frames a full moon against the pale blue morning sky. A pair of seagulls glide in opposite directions.
ALT
  • Reply
    • MichaelWhelan , to random
    @MichaelWhelan@mastodon.art avatar

    WARMING HER WINGS (2012)
    Acrylic on Panel - 11" x 14"

    In fall, the sun sets on the west side of our property to shine through the trees. On a humid day, the light seems suspended in the thick air, spreading against the dark shapes of the trees, fanning golden brilliance across the green lawn. 1/4

    Flagstones set loosely in a grassy hill amble down to the wall of castle ruins built of uneven stone. An opening, like the vertical slit of a cat's pupil, provides a view down to a verdant field ending in dense darker woods followed by placid water. Light glints over the surface and filters through the eyelet set in the wall bathing gold blades of wild growing grass. In that line of light, a butterfly spreads yellow and black wings wide to catch rays on one of the smaller stones on the path.
    ALT
  • Reply
    • MichaelWhelan , to random
    @MichaelWhelan@mastodon.art avatar

    TIME AND TIDE (2009)
    Oil - 24" x 18"

    This painting started out to be just a morning exercise, kind of a companion idea to TIME'S PASSING. But once I added the water, I was drawn into the scene—pardon the pun—and it ended up being a finished work.

    https://www.michaelwhelan.com/galleries/time-and-tide/

    Detail from TIME AND TIDE featuring the nested archway and window leading to a view of cool blue sea. A transparent sphere containing a solitary flame floats out to pale blue sky.
    Close detail from TIME AND TIDE featuring the spiral of an ammonite fossil resting against stone at the base of an opening providing a view out to sea. The wall of the ancient ruins is wheat colored, a warm contrast against the cool ripples of the cobalt sea beyond.

    Rippling cobalt sea fades to pale sky as seen through a tall rectangular portal set in the wall of ancient ruins. Rough in outline where blocks are missing—showing through where the fit is uneven—the "window" outward is bathed in golden light and framed by an arched doorway, which is in turn bordered by a simple carved stone arch set in relief. The base is grown over with leafy vines blossoming with pale lavender wildflowers. Beyond the window floats a transparent sphere containing a solitary flame. Set on the stone step leading to the view out, the spiral of an ammonite rests open end up, drawing the viewers eye up to the floating sphere and above where missing blocks show through to pale blue.
    ALT
  • Reply
    • MichaelWhelan , to random
    @MichaelWhelan@mastodon.art avatar

    DOORWAY TO THE WEST (2006)
    Acrylic on Panel - 12" x 9"

    Another search for the light. Creating the illusion of texture in paint, the process of actually painting it, can be an act of meditation. 1/2

    A solitary flame contained in a transparent sphere floats across the threshold of an uneven stone doorway set in ancient ruins. Shadow cuts across the broken remains of the facade. The sky beyond is partially cloudy, lit golden over placid water defining the horizon. In the immediate foreground, three stone steps lead up to portal, but the ground is overgrown with wild vegetation. Flowers add an occasional splash of blue, white, and yellow at the stub of wall and on the short path to it.
    ALT
  • Reply
  • All
  • Subscribed
  • Moderated
  • Favorites
  • •
  • random
  • test
  • worldmews
  • mews
  • All magazines
    •