Inspiration and Interpretation Over Cosmic Clouds

In this post I thought I would try to give some insight into interpretation (or lack thereof!) of my paintings. As an illustration, I used a painting called Over Cosmic Clouds, sold earlier this year, that I have recently made available as a print on Fine Art America.

Like all my abstracts, this work is of course open to interpretation by one and all. There are feelings involved, artist's inspiration, all the circumstances that were in play at the time of painting, etc.

That said, whenever possible, I also like to offer a suggested interpretation.

In this case I've taken the title from the words of the poet Bliss Carman in his Poem Dust of the Street:

"This cosmic dust beneath our feet
Rising to hurry down the street,

Borne by the wind and blown astray
In its erratic, senseless way,

Is the same stuff as you and I—
With knowledge and desire put by.

Thousands of times since time began
It has been used for making man...."

From that point you are free again to extrapolate as you wish. As a highly visual person, I tend to see most of my paintings representationally, even if such representation was not intended. So when I look at this painting I have no problem imagining soaring through the cosmos uploading particles of inspiration to use in my next creation!!