Originality and the Iconic

Interesting, A lot of the ideas I'm playing with for my next paintings have come from elsewhere, music, film, mythology. Someone might accuse me of never having an 'original' idea in my work. I'm readying myself for such argument because what can you expect when you're painting Darth Vader or the Man in Black, characters from other people's world. The truth is I use the characters as a departure point for my own devices, you see and recognize them, understand what they mean, and if you don't, you read about them. I don't need to fill you with back story of obscure original characters of my own making, though I do have them and use them as needed, such as Irv's character and other survivors.



I'll let Delacroix speak in my defense in this case.


"What moves men of genius, or rather what inspires their work, is not new ideas, but their obsession with the idea that what has already been said is still not enough."



Darth Vader, The King of Swords. He is an icon. I've had dreams about this painting, and it'll be the key that opens up symbolic reading of figurative art to the masses. The average man is at least as familiar with Star Wars today, as the Italian peasant of the Renaissance was familiar with the Church. This will form the link with my audience that may interest them on my more esoteric works, such as the Hades saga.



Father's day is coming and I can't help but to think of my own father, and our differences. He had the potential for so much happiness and success in his life, but without any care or respect for genuine spirituality to guide his path, he made so many bad choices that let the ultimately unhappy state he is in today. We used to watch Star Wars together and I wonder if he ever thought about the true Force that surrounds and shapes us, or regarded all of it, in his practical mind, as fairy tales with no ground on the reality of human spirituality. He's never been one for calling or writing to my brothers and I, making it difficult for me to keep any relationship with him. It feels like hard work, and I'm working hard enough trying to make something of myself. Lisa senses that he needs me though he himself may not know it, or even distrust me. But I'll write to him soon, and share images and thoughts on this painting as I work on it.



An analytical critic can even make a case for Vader being the weighty History of the Art that has taken a nihilistic turn "to the dark side" since the 20th centruy. The naive young artist fights bravely using instinct where he lacks in skill, but he lacks the experience and mastery needed to overthrow his creator. The artist is wounded, having his projecting hand with which he creates art, severed, unable to raise the brush or creative force against his modern/postmodern father. The sith lord then calls out to the young artist declaring his fatherhood and extending the seductive invitation to join him, and rule the establishment together, 'conform to unconformity' as Kuspit would call it. Ultimately in the Return of the Jedi, the son seeks to redeem his father, not destroy him. We will have to see how that plays out in the future.

I have no doubt that this painting will be a balance of intellectual ideas as well as emotion, as many will identify Darth Vader with their own dysfunctional fathers. I will discuss the nature of the King of Swords from the tarot deck as well as its identity in my mind as Anakin Skywlker another time. Its an important connection that gives greater insight into the psychology of Anakin, and maybe our fathers too.