CHAINS OF THE SEA

2018 Leftovers and Palette Gremlins 6

Apr 05, 2025

Two weathered concrete pylons rise from tidal waters, which reflect light in a glossy sheen but are shallow enough to show the sand of the shore beneath. A loop of chain, weighed down by a padlock, dangles between pylons. The way around on either side of the pylons is clear, raising a question of what the lock is for. The chain is secured to metal loops anchored on rusty plates at the top of each pylon. Short nubs of rebar extend from the eroded concrete at the top, contrasting the gray sky. A hazy band of sea green defines the horizon. — CHAINS OF THE SEA (2018), Acrylic on Canvas - 12" x 16"

A small study for a larger planned painting that never happened.

I began working on this at the same time as the cover for Words of Radiance back in 2013. I felt it needed another element to seem "right" to me, so I set it aside until the final detail came to me. Once I added the lock on the second chain—using leftover paint in a palette I needed to clean out—I finally considered the study complete.

Some paintings take awhile to find their finishing flourishes.

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