“It’s easier to resist at the beginning than at the end.”
Leonardo DaVinci
Trustfall – The Series
It began with a fierce and mournful wailing in the heart.
A visceral flailing of the soul.
In the reaching out
as sanity explodes
the artist grabs instinctively
for what is always within reach
the sketchbook.
Thanksgiving Morning 5:45am – full dark
Waking to Trustfall
Eagle – fierce and powerful and the last true guardian… FURY.
Flag – Dramatically wrenched into fierce tension – tightened, knotted, twisted, threadbare – shredding – coming unwoven – just a few stars
coming…UNSTITCHED.
With eagle feather and red and white threads swirling all around.
Then what IF anything is there to save it?
Later on the rainy Thanksgiving morning – with the library fire roaring and the tiny tree lit
Having watched as the dark sun rose and the cardinal slept late and the Jamestown sailed into heavy squalls with lightening during the midnight watch.
Found the eagle studio shots [from] 14 march 2011.
Perfect for this painting.
32 x 48 panel ready to go.
Ordered a “distressed” flag – which I will torture further in the pursuit of freedom.
3 April 2025
Panels up for oiling out.
Re-energized.
Resistance beginning to grow nationwide.
Marches on the 5th.
I’m ready to dig in and do this.
RISE UP
11 May 2025 – commences and between 4.00am and 5.00am
Panel up on the easel.
Flag drying on clothesline.
Fist ready to fight.
Artist’s Post Scriptum
This is how it began.
As it became clear that there was more to be said
the resistance grew into a triptych.
Two additional smaller works flanking the eagle.
Taken together the creative response
flows from the kernel of that fierce flailing soul
grabbing for the powerful truths
of beauty, decency and justice
standing together with the voices of Resistance
and holding on tight.
The second painting in the Trustfall Triptych.
You can read the Painter’s Notes for Trustfall – Resistance for the backstory.
This began life as a smaller study last year when the idea of Trustfall was first percolating with the Muses.
The powerful emotions of trust and fear incongruently balanced with the lightness and whimsy of bubbles.
A dynamic that continues to challenge
and somehow comfort.
The third painting in the Trustfall Triptych.
You can read the Painter’s Notes for Trustfall – Resistance for the backstory.
The Muses don’t hold on to grudges
and can’t abide living in hate
they see beauty everywhere
and insist on catching it
like feathers riding on an ocean breeze
they love to grab this old artists’ hands
throw caution and brushes to the wind
and dance.
AND…
Because I knew you would ask…
a map rendered
according to distant memory
and assistance from my book of feathers
so you can make sense
out of these treasures.
