Who’s Your Daddy
2006
21” X 31”

The composition of this piece came straight from my camera.  From across the room I watched this beautiful, solemn little boy lounging across his jubilant father’s hat as he rode high above the crowd on his daddy’s shoulders.  With my camera focused, I patiently waited for just the right shot.  To my delight, the father turned and looked straight into my camera lens.  I could not wait to paint this image onto a canvas.

As I sat in my studio creating the sketch for this piece, I noticed how the boy looked away as the father looked straight on.  The child had such fair skin compared to the father’s which was dark in tone.  And while the father was euphoric, the boy seemed more serious in nature. 

The composition reminded me of a teaching regarding the balance of opposites; “All entities include their opposites as part of their nature.  Two things that are against each other also support each other in a balanced relationship...  Opposites pull and push, and the successful artist learns to control them to his or her advantage.”

I appreciate art that gives off an energy that flows from a harmonious balance of contrasts.