Of Good Cheer– Now at the West End Gallery
Be of good cheer. Do not think of today’s failures, but of the success that may come tomorrow. You have set yourselves a difficult task, but you will succeed if you persevere; and you will find a joy in overcoming obstacles. Remember, no effort that we make to attain something beautiful is ever lost.
― Helen Keller
The new Painting above, included at my West End Gallery show opening this coming Friday, never fails in filling me with a sense of possibility. Its surface has a brightness of tone that completely overwhelms its underlying darkness.
Oh, the darkness of the original black-painted surface is still present, still managing to serve as a counterweight to any pretense of cock-eyed optimism. Even so, there is a potent sense of joy and a real bring-on-the-day energy in this piece.
I can’t say for sure, but it might be the most cheerful painting I have ever painted. That’s saying a lot.
The title for this 15″ by 30″ painting is Of Good Cheer. It is mainly derived from the words at the top from Helen Keller though many will recognize the phrase from Jesus’ advice to his Apostles in his final days when he told them of the persecution and hardships they would be facing. I am sure it has also made its way into a Christmas carol or some other similar song.
Whatever the case, the idea of finding some joy in the face of hardship is good advice for anybody anywhere.
Of Good Cheer is, as I pointed out, at the West End Gallery in Corning, NY for my annual exhibit there that opens this Friday, July 22.
I hope you get a chance to see this particular piece in person. I feel that most of my work looks much better in person but that is especially true for this piece. I had a horrible time photographing it, in properly adjusting and matching the multiple blue and green tones in it. The image above is a fair representation but the original is far superior.
For this week’s Sunday Morning Music, let’s hear some good cheer from the Staple Singers from back around 1970. It’s a song that I think really lines up well with this painting. This is I’ll Take You There.
