"The Feast"

60" x 84"
acrylic on canvas



The largest one I have done to date, it was quite a ride from start to finish, in a good way, for it allowed me to really put myself to the test and push my boundaries. It took nearly three months of intense painting, everyday, and had me either lying or sitting on the floor, getting on and off a stool, and running to one end of the studio and back to gauge it from a distance countless times a day, literally causing me to emerge from the experience 10 lbs. lighter (not complaining!). If you've been following this blog, you're probably familiar with my desire to do large-scale works more often, so, naturally, when I got this opportunity I was totally psyched.



The figures in this piece are 100% life-size. If you sit in front of it, you'll look like you're part of the scene. Place a hand over one in the painting and they'll match. Everything in it is scaled accordingly; that's what's made it so consuming and exciting for me, so much so that by the tenth week when it neared completion, I almost forgot I even existed.




The initial idea was to create a sort of table scene, and I wanted to create a narrative with mood where various windows and doors behind each figure contain something unique, symbolizing different thoughts and states of mind, themes and motifs commonly present in my work. I also wanted to further explore and indulge in my love for painting textures and patterns, something that, albeit time-consuming, is actually a very meditative process.





Expect to see more large-scale paintings from me in the future, and new paintings are currently in progress, so stay tuned! Huge thanks to my clients and gallery for giving me the chance to take on something like this. In addition, commissions are being accepted, so if interested, please contact RJD Fine Arts Gallery with any inquiries, and check out The Feast on Flickr for a larger view.