Phoenix and the Turtle 2015

Working Big

Cannon experimented with new paints, equipment (paint rollers) on a very large canvas.  It was quite a stretch for him.  Cannon added a variety of colors, layering the colors in until he was satisfied with the results.

Cannon loads the paint roller with color. Sometimes he picks up more than one color on the roller and lets the roller mix the color directly on the canvas. 

Getting a good stretch. Cannon is challenged to reach all of the canvas with his paint roller.

Below we can see how really large this canvas is.  From time to time as Cannon indicates, the canvas is turned so that another part of it is within his range of motion.

 When Cannon was finished we all discussed the various impressions or images we could see in his expressionistic composition. Daddy could see shapes and strokes that reminded him of William Shakespeare's allegorical poem The Phoenix and the Turtle. Turtle refers to the turtledove not the "shelled reptile". Look closely and you might see wings.

Acrylic  36"x36"

The Phoenix and the Turtle

Let the bird of loudest lay,
On the sole Arabian tree,
Herald sad and trumpet be,
To whose sound chaste wings obey.*

* first stanza William Shakespeare