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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.
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