In Flight

[gxhpainter2]

another use of the simple arrow shape, and use of blending modes heavy color texture,flat oils and tracing image ...hope you enjoy the "flight"

[Caesar]

This looks like a festively colorful baloon, so the flight is really pleasant and slow moving, to better appreciate the bird-eye landscape in a "detached" way. Maybe a metaphore of Your new, enjoyable life after retirement in front of everyday stressing problems and lack of time other humans are caged in ... LOL

[pat1940]

Gary, this is so alive with color, and see the action in it, well done

[vandra]

Very interesting painting. So much to see. I can certainly see that I am flying

[D Akey]

Man, dig that crazy tarmac, daddy-o.

I like what you've done, the devices you've used. I personally get thrown a little when I see arrows pointing the eye off the canvas, and I can see this as a conscious choice on your part to play with the idea of directing the attention to what has yet to appear from over the horizon or outside the picture frame. So in that way it sorta works. And it's a very interesting precipitous climb, rather like doing it in spite of the challenge to make it work where others have failed. Legitimate when there are so many things you used that are really cool visually? Does this kind of compositional shape anchor the eye? Fascinating like watching someone climbing a cliff. There's the personal satisfaction from the achievement for the climber no doubt.

So what's the answer? Does it work for you? Were you trying to do something like an abstract version of an aviation pic of a plane in flight?

Personally I think everything works except the directional nature of that particular shape sets up quite a tension wherein that tension overwhelms the rest of the stuff the painting provides. And that could well be because it's my mind's resistance to breaking a convention, and I can't shake that notion because for me it does eject my eye from the painting.

I was just yesterday watching an archaic Soupy Sales kids television show from the early days of TV. I didn't watch it as a kid probably because it seemed more aimed at adults because of the cultural references and in-jokes I had never been exposed to at the time. (For those who don't know, think Pee Wee Herman meets Mad magazine). But he was doing a comedic routine where he's listening to a radio show in which the speaker who has created a "we can fix anything" kind of offer to listeners, who says, "Want to see your name in lights? Change your name to 'Exit'. . ." at which point I fell apart laughing it was so unexpected.

[justjean]

Oh, beautiful kites floating high in the sky, great one Garry