Flower Bed
Flower Bed (2016)
24×18¼ Pastel on Pastel Paper
Original is Sold
Mother Nature is a master of extremes. On one hand, she can conjure up brute devastation, but on the other, she has a fine-handed gift for creating stunning things of beauty and balance, from glorious sunsets to delicate beds of flowers.
I have always been intrigued by the impact nature can have on us, the serenity of sitting by the ocean, the peacefulness of a walk in the woods, or the sheer cheerfulness brought by a blooming field. In contrast, man's effect on nature is rarely positive. With that in mind, I wanted to show a man completely yielding to the earth, relaxed and naked across this Flower Bed.
If you look closely at his left hip, you will spot a small bumblebee sharing the space. The global bee population is suffering from massive die-offs, of which humanity certainly has a hand in. Working in pastel, I wanted to capture a moment of gentle coexistence, contrasting his chiseled, muscular physique with the intricate, delicate textures of the wild grass and pink blossoms.
