This is my favorite of your works. I bought a print years ago, and at one point was in the middle of moving and a summer job and hung it in my parent's house for a few months. After I picked it up they bought a copy themselves to take it's place.
Another of my all-time favorites! Michael’s take on the act of saying goodbye triggers intense introspection for me as do all of the Passage paintings. They all feature the iconic glow globe and are usually depicted floating or otherwise in motion. Here, Michael depicts the globe in bright yellow tones instead of a muted white. I can only recall one other time yellows were used, but even then, the glow was not as pronounced as here. Is it because the globe is embraced by the prone figure? I like to think that is the case. Additionally the globe is neither floating nor in motion! Unique in Passage works! The real question here though is who/what is in the act of saying goodbye? The glow globe? The figure? Or both? Additionally the brilliant hues in the sky seem to make the globe shine even more bright! An incredible piece that asks questions and invites the viewer to think and to come up with answers.
I’m glad LEAVETAKING has struck a chord in so many people, but I really don’t want to be a spoiler and tell them what to think about it. But I can provide some background:
That painting derived from a session with a model I had in my studio ( though I did have the basic idea in my head beforehand).
I had acquired a large glass globe which was used as part of the pose. I’d placed a small light inside the glass but it turned out to be rather lighter than a candle flame—but I liked the drama it added to the total effect. Since the bubble shape symbolizes soul or life, and she’s holding it in one final embrace…well, along with the title I think it says all that needs to be said about what message is contained therein.
Keep in mind, as I’ve noted elsewhere, the image was never intended to be anything other than a figure painting done from life—Like a figure study, but in monochrome (raw umber) and a larger size than most. Once I got into it I decided to color it up somewhat and with those additional touches it sort of came to life, in a manner of speaking.
But to my mind, it’s always going to feel like a “study” done for some future “final version” of the idea. But I’ve been wrong before. 😉
This is my favorite of your works. I bought a print years ago, and at one point was in the middle of moving and a summer job and hung it in my parent's house for a few months. After I picked it up they bought a copy themselves to take it's place.
I adore this one and own a print myself
Another of my all-time favorites! Michael’s take on the act of saying goodbye triggers intense introspection for me as do all of the Passage paintings. They all feature the iconic glow globe and are usually depicted floating or otherwise in motion. Here, Michael depicts the globe in bright yellow tones instead of a muted white. I can only recall one other time yellows were used, but even then, the glow was not as pronounced as here. Is it because the globe is embraced by the prone figure? I like to think that is the case. Additionally the globe is neither floating nor in motion! Unique in Passage works! The real question here though is who/what is in the act of saying goodbye? The glow globe? The figure? Or both? Additionally the brilliant hues in the sky seem to make the globe shine even more bright! An incredible piece that asks questions and invites the viewer to think and to come up with answers.
I’m glad LEAVETAKING has struck a chord in so many people, but I really don’t want to be a spoiler and tell them what to think about it. But I can provide some background:
That painting derived from a session with a model I had in my studio ( though I did have the basic idea in my head beforehand).
I had acquired a large glass globe which was used as part of the pose. I’d placed a small light inside the glass but it turned out to be rather lighter than a candle flame—but I liked the drama it added to the total effect. Since the bubble shape symbolizes soul or life, and she’s holding it in one final embrace…well, along with the title I think it says all that needs to be said about what message is contained therein.
Keep in mind, as I’ve noted elsewhere, the image was never intended to be anything other than a figure painting done from life—Like a figure study, but in monochrome (raw umber) and a larger size than most. Once I got into it I decided to color it up somewhat and with those additional touches it sort of came to life, in a manner of speaking.
But to my mind, it’s always going to feel like a “study” done for some future “final version” of the idea. But I’ve been wrong before. 😉
One of my favorites of your work ! I love the feelimgit gives of !
A gorgeous painting and a personal favorite. My daughter has this print in her place.