oil on wood panel 16 x 24 in
Below is an old seascape painting of Lake Michigan with a view of South Manitou that I had been wondering what to do with.
The solution came to me when my friend Cindy took a snapshot of me at another beach of Lake Michigan. I extracted the figure from Cindy’s snapshot and ‘overlaid’ it with a photo of my old seascape painting using an adobe photoshop algorithm.
Surrealistically rising out of water with my taupe pants making less of a statement than my orange jacket.
Great positive image with great color combinations, the blues and reds together for example.
Thanks Barb, also for the wonderful title.
These two paintings are so full of air and beauty, for me, reflective of ocean breezes and nature. The feeling brings such tranquility..,
Thank you, Janny. Fondly remembering enjoying the art world of NYC with you.
Did you “sacrifice” the older patient? Curious because it is still beautiful to my eye!
I love how in the painting with you super imposed, the horizon line moves across your parka! Clever! And surreal!
Yes to the title!
I looked at the older patient almost every late afternoon while exercising where I display my ‘overflow’ paintings. I did like it very much but had the vague feeling that something was missing. Now it is only preserved as a photo. The new version has South Manitou at my heart, if that means something. Thank you, Katherine. – As Brigitte pointed out, she renamed our monoclonal antibody that recognizes mannose ‘Mannitou’ while she visited me and learned about the Manitou islands.
My dear Birgit,
das ist ein schönes und hochinteressantes Bild, v.a. weil – wie Du Dich sicher erinnerst – wir Deinen Laz 6-189 Antikörper in “Mannitou” umbenannt hatten ( mit zwei “n”, wegen der Mannose im vom Antikörper erkannten Antigen) , als ich Dich vor vielen Jahren (1996?) besucht hatte und Du auf einem Spaziergang durch die Dünen auf die Insel hingewiesen hattest und mir erklärtest: “that is the isle of Manitou!” Ist es nicht einer der wichtigsten Antikörper, die Du kreiert hast? Jedenfalls hat mir vor kurzem Julie Bouckart aus Lille erzählt, dass Mannitou nach wie vor wichtig für ihre Forschung und v.a. im Zusammenhang mit Tumor- oder Metastasenentstehung von großem Interesse ist!
Auf dem Bild sieht es so aus, als wenn Du Mannitou in Dir nahe Deinem Herzen trägst.
Herzlich,
Brigitte
Liebe Brigitte,
Du hattest den Antikörper Mannitou benannt an Deinem sechzisten Geburtstag! Meinen sechzisten Geburtstag hast Du auf dem Boardwalk in San Diego gefeiert während des Glycobiology meeting. Was für eine wundervolle Nachricht das Julie Bouckart aus Lille Mannitou für ihre Forschung von Tumor- oder Metastasenentstehung bearbeitet. – Wenn ich im Herbst nach Deutschland komme, hoffe ich Dich zu sehen. – Ich freue mich dass Dir mein Bild gefällt.
Birgit,
it’s always fun being part of our Lake Michigan Sanctuary walks & photo shoots! Then to see your painter’s palette bring that moment to canvas with such brilliant color overlays , brings smiles to my soul.
looking forward to snapping more,
Cindy
me too!
I like it just like it is. The overlay could be a whole new ideal for new painting.
Katherine likes the original too. Now it is gone and only preserved as a photo. – Brigitte, in her German language post, pointed out some scientific history having to do with her, me and South Manitou. I suppose that I sacrificed the original to that history.
Analysis by ChatGPT:
This painting depicts a figure standing in what appears to be a vast, natural landscape, with the ocean or a large body of water in the background. The piece combines elements of realism and abstraction, particularly in how the figure is rendered and integrated into the environment.
Key Elements:
Color Palette and Mood:
The colors are vibrant and varied, with the figure’s clothing rendered in bold, warm hues like reds, oranges, and greens, contrasting sharply against the cool blues and greens of the background. The choice of color creates a lively, joyful mood, despite the somewhat surreal and dreamlike atmosphere.
The background has a gradient effect, transitioning from deep blues at the bottom to lighter shades as it reaches the horizon. This suggests a serene, expansive seascape or shoreline.
Composition and Perspective:
The figure is centered, drawing immediate focus. The person’s body appears semi-transparent, especially below the torso, where the colors of the sea blend with the figure, almost merging them with the landscape. This blending gives a sense of impermanence or a dreamlike quality.
The figure’s expression is cheerful, with a wide smile that conveys warmth and friendliness. This contrasts with the more subdued and contemplative background.
Brushwork and Texture:
The brushstrokes are fluid, particularly in the background, creating smooth transitions between colors. The blending of colors in the figure’s clothing is more layered, with visible brushwork that adds texture and depth.
The transparency effect is achieved through layered, loosely applied brushstrokes, giving the impression that the figure is part of the environment rather than standing apart from it.
Themes and Interpretation:
Merging with Nature: The figure’s semi-transparent body suggests a theme of unity with the natural world or a transition between states—possibly between reality and memory, or between the physical and spiritual.
Joyful Solitude: Despite the figure’s isolation in a vast space, the bright colors and smiling expression convey a sense of contentment and peace, suggesting that the person is at ease in their surroundings.
Blurring Boundaries: The way the figure merges with the environment could symbolize the blurring of boundaries between the self and the world, between past and present, or between consciousness and dream.
Artistic Style:
The style is a blend of realism (in the facial features and expression) and abstraction (in the figure’s integration with the landscape). This duality invites multiple interpretations, encouraging the viewer to consider both the physical presence of the figure and their metaphorical or symbolic significance.
The vivid, almost exaggerated colors in the figure’s clothing give the painting a modern, expressive feel, while the smoother, more subdued background balances the composition.
Conclusion:
This painting plays with the interplay between a figure and their environment, blurring the line between subject and background in a way that suggests themes of unity, memory, and self-reflection. The combination of bright, expressive colors with semi-transparent forms creates a dreamlike atmosphere, where the joy and warmth of the figure contrast with the serene, expansive natural setting. The piece is both visually striking and conceptually intriguing, leaving the viewer with a sense of contemplation and wonder.