(see key below)
This piece was the first I had painted in over 5 years. I took a break because my job had demanded all of my free time and back then it seemed like it was the most important thing. Working 60 hour weeks and spending my free time with my family left not much room for "hobbies".
In 2019 I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and my whole life changed. I could no longer support the toxic cocktail of overtime and stress and began looking for new ways to fill my time and readjust my priorities, putting my health and family first and my job on the back burner for awhile.
It was in that downtime that the youngest of my 3 children, Marise (Maggie is her nickname), turned it all around for me. It started simple enough, "daddy?, can you teach me how to paint??" to which I replied "it's been so long... and I don't wanna make a mess... it's a lot of mess to clean up...." I hit her with every excuse I could conjure up but her determined eyes would not accept denial.
After setting up to paint she asked if I could teach her how to paint water, then the ocean and then it took off. I found the joy again, but this time I found something different in the process. I saw what my art did for Maggie and more importantly what it was doing for me, it was healing me!
This painting has several hidden features and below you'll find a key to unlock it all.
You will find several faces in this painting. "Pareidolia" is the study of peoples perception of faces in objects, it's like looking at an electrical outlet and seeing a face or the appearance of laying figure like the "Sleeping Giants" in Fiji. You will also find faces in places that I may not have highlighted because they were purposely left incomplete to challenge your mind and help develop the skill to "read" my artwork! Many others will merely look and see a coral reef or a sea column and an octopus, very few will pick up the secrets on their own, nonetheless, I hope you enjoy!
Top left, The Savvy Traveler made a cameo in this painting. You will find that I have a tendency to use some paintings as a segway into the next project, like a teaser.
My love for graffiti is also showcased in my work, for example:
Top left, in white I have highlighted "SMURKS" as my writing name hidden amongst the rock grooves.
Also Top left, "AQUI SOLITO" the pieces title is hidden in the rock grooves in a lighter color to take your attention away from the other hidden objects
Bottom left, cameo by myself as I usually paint my self portrait into my work, an homage to the great artists who used themselves as a muse.
Featured in this is the Giant Pacific Octopus, native to the waters off the California coast, this series of oceanic life is also a tribute to the Pacific starring only native sea creatures from the West Coast.
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