Dad's Night Out
Dad's Night Out (2021)
24¼x18¼ Pastel on Pastel Paper
Original is Sold
He is dutiful, responsible, and keeping up with the Joneses. But when it is finally time for Dad’s Night Out... anything goes.
Painting ideas come at me randomly; some happen quickly, while others marinate for years before I finally put them to paper. This piece is a thrilling, unapologetic nod to shedding those everyday domestic expectations under the cover of darkness.
This piece captures the specific tension of a clandestine Public encounter. The main technical challenge was managing the park's low-light, ambient night glow. I used muted oranges for the distant streetlamps filtering through the Autumn leaves, letting that soft light reflect beautifully off the dark, glossy SUV. The entire composition plays heavily with irony, contrasting the wholesome stick-figure family decal on the window with the erotic scene unfolding right before it.
