The Naked Silo

22" x 15", watercolour, 2016 That's my friend and often-used model, Ashley, once again –this time apparently experiencing some kind of feverish delirium. Taking into account a couple of miscounts and do-overs (or whatever) this very well may be my fortieth painting featuring Ashley. This a re-use of reference previously used for Pure as a Lover's Desire, Evil as a Murderer's Dream ...which is, admittedly, third-season-Star-Trek-level of too long a title. I used gesso for the wobbly circles and dots. The title is borrowed from a line in Michael Penn 's song Strange Season . I've borrowed from him before for these paintings (at least!): Virtuous or Virtual? , Close , Figment , and Wall .

15" x 22", watercolour, 1998 The position of the model was always intended to be right-of-centre, but I did a few sketches trying to figure out what the background should be, choosing to combine the last two (note: matrix motif is referred to as "stained glass") and rendering it with a rather reserved palette. I used charcoal to write the word on the painting (like I did with mad. , figment , and learn ). This painting was part of  Operation: Waterstorm . Annette Wagner

18" x 22.5", watercolour, 1998 Here I managed to make the matrix into a sort of halo, which I find an interesting framing motif, despite (or because of?) the religious connotations. Preliminary sketch. I'm not sure why I posed her arms like that...maybe it was a subconscious need to paint someone doing the  Safety Dance . The title comes from the song  "Figment"  by Michael Penn from his 1997 album Resigned . For other background info on the title, see my post about  evade  (featuring the same model and her arms). This painting was part of  Operation: Waterstorm .