Melt
Melt (2012)
24¼×18½ Pastel on Pastel Paper
Original is Sold
To Melt is to become liquefied by heat, or to find oneself softened by compassion and desire.
While most of my paintings begin with a definitive story, this piece evolved through the power of subtraction. Stripping away unnecessary elements finally brought the composition together, allowing me to express multiple themes within a single, powerful image. I used crisp, cool cyans and soft whites to build the vast horizon line and the smooth water surface, contrasting them against the rich, warm, sun-baked flesh tones of the figure. Perfecting his sharp reflection in the glassy, still water allowed me to anchor the entire minimalist landscape, turning a simple pose into a surreal, striking statement on vulnerability and climate.
