Left Behind

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a marker sketch I did during Covid. Visually it's a science fiction piece, but really a symbolic representation of my circumstances during the pandemic when my wife (now ex) and our two cats were living in a 600 square-foot condo in Salem. The forced togetherness and isolation made us feel as if we were living in a tiny spaceship.
We decided to move to a bigger place, and found a property we could afford, in Gloucester.
The preparation for moving during an ongoing pandemic made us feel like we were adventurers heading to some alien planet, not knowing exactly what we were going to end up facing, but feeling that we could face almost anything together. It was stressful and challenging, but there was a feeling of solidarity. This first image represents the hopefulness and adventure of that upcoming move, settling in a new and alien place.

We moved. Two weeks later, my wife blind-sided me by telling me that she was leaving me, and about two months after that, she did.

That was two years ago. After dealing with divorce, pandemic and death I decided to rework the image. This represents how I have felt the last two years, even more isolated, like I had been abandoned on an alien planet.
 

 

Gloucester City Hall at Night

 Driving home from work a few months ago, I was passing the Gloucester City Hall, when the contrast between the bright yellow artificial light shining on the main tower , and the subdued , blue light on the rest of the building caught my eye. The view made me want to try and paint it. The painting is 6" x 10" acrylic on a wood panel.

Hammond Arches at Night

A small painting of the arches at Hammond Castle at night. 

Painting is 6" x 10" on a wooden panel.

The Neils

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was a painting I did as a thank you gift for my friend Jon. 

It's a painting of him and his family in their backyard

in June od 2021. During this period, during my divorce, they would 

sometimes invite me over to dinner. 

This night was particularly memorable and fun. 

It was warm and very clear out. We ate at a table set up in their back yard and afterwards sat around their fire pit and gazed at the stars. I wanted to thank them for their hospitatlity, and commemorate that particular evening.