Hand Painted

[Ted Byrne]

[Theo]

Going to town with the oil filter arn't we LOL.
I love the muted brown tones on this work well with the flesh tones. Also the different angles on the arm of the chair works to move your eye from one picture to the other. Really like the way the sleeve works to tie the two images together at first glance i was curious why you put the left on left and right on right but the sleeve really ties it. and adds intres that i think you would have lost if you were to put left to right and right to left. over all a very pleasing pictures but then i expect no less from you

ted

[Ted Byrne]

Thanks for the encouragement Ted. The juxtaposition of the hands seemed a useful device to startle away from stereotypical asymmetry. It provoked me to push through the warmth of the image and wonder. You  know when you come across an unexpected roadside direction? Or maybe an oddly placed punctuation?

It's apparent that the surgery in this pairing was a deliberate provocation which has drawn out a passel of reaction, and questions from visitors to various forums. Making me wonder how much we expect from an artist, and how the artist should think about how a small change can frustrate and challenge those expectations in a usefully artistic way.

Thoughts? 

[aprilS]

It's almost impossible to let go of my knowledge of the subject, so I can't help but think of it in a political context.

Which leads me to the idea of holding tight versus letting go. Or, governing with a firm grip or a light hand.

Which seems counter to our US parties of "liberal left" and "conservative right"...

[Ted Byrne]

Okay... here's my political context April.

Some few years ago, the mainstream American media casually decided to color Democrat victories on maps in blue. And GOP victories in red. Of course it was to deliberately hide the historic roots of the Democrat left, cutting them free from all of the Soviet, Maoist, Shining Path, Cuban, and Robespierre-ian baggage of oppressive bloodshed.

And I suppose it has worked with respect to school children who will now no longer associate the American left with the bloody red of the redshirts of history. Maybe the media's given the left a second chance to prove itself anew without an historic legacy. Or perhaps it has further reduced the public's respect for the media's intentions.

Like my image... the arbitrary shifting of left with right... leaves the viewer off balance and even insisting that the hsitorical order be restored.

Or maybe a cigar is just a cigar?