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Any Monsters? artist Kevin Grass's lifelike oil on canvas painting leaves me wondering about the motive and the overall depth of the work. It nearly took my breath away. The content is dynamic and yet odd at the same time. A sweet little boy looks lost and innocent. Immediately adjacent to him we see a scary tree that seems to be bearing monsters amongst its dark branches. The fruit on the floor is troubling. Has it been placed as forbidden fruit to tempt the boy in some manner, or is it simple color addition to the earthy color palette? The extreme detailed gothic arches and columns were both grounded and suspended in air. The sky in the background was serene and beautifully cascaded across the canvas. All these elements create a mysterious and intriguing story.

Kevin Grass's work is so finely detailed that at first glance I thought it was a photograph and not a painting. I could not see a line that was out of place, looking as if it had no meaning to the piece. His form is realistic, but in some sort of abstract view. The colors that kept my eyes focused on the painting were subtle but depicted photographic realism as well. The shapes of all the objects within were perfect in every way.

What I have devised in my own mind about this painting is complicated. I immediately thought the little boy was the artist and he was in a dream or possibly a nightmare. I felt that he was lured to this place by the fruit. He looks lost and unsure of what he should do. Should he turn and go back to the light at the skyline that brightly shines through the open archway, or should he take the fruit and enter off through one of the side archways that seem to lead to a scary place? I felt the arches were possibly evil due to the creepy tree along the side of the boy and the suspended arches. It was like a decision in process, life or death, a pure life vs. a life of sin. I observed the columns to be grounded through the center as the secure decision and the suspended arches were the insecurity of this person and the thought of making wrong decisions.

In conclusion, I fell in love with this painting and was drawn to it immediately. I think this local artist has the best oil paintings I have ever seen. If I had the money to spend on a piece of art, Any Monsters? By Kevin Grass would be my choice.