The Brush Off

The Brush Off

"The Brush Off" - mixed media on 300 lb watercolor paper, 22" x 15".  Available here and at Artfinder.

One of my favorite pieces emerging from the Freedom in Watermedia workshop with Stan Kurth - the story behind this one begins with a Johnny Cash song:

From the backdoor of your life you swept me out dear
In the bread line of your dreams I lost my place
At the table of your love I got the brush off
At the Indianapolis of your heart I lost the race

I've been washed down the sink of your conscience
In the theater of your love I lost my part
And now you say you've got me out of your conscience
I've been flushed from the bathroom of your heart

In the garbage disposal of you dreams I've been ground up dear
On the river of your plans I'm up the creek
Up the elevator of your future I've been shafted
On the calendar of your events I'm last week
​
I've been washed down the sink of your conscience
In the theater of your love I lost my part
And now you say you've got me out of your conscience
I've been flushed from the bathroom of your heart

Now if you've ever been dumped, rejected, kicked to the curb, left by the wayside or broken up with, you know there is nothing quite like a country song to help you wallow in your feelings.  But not being much of a wallower, I find Cash's song country enough but also dang funny.  A song that mocks songs like itself.  And that makes me smile.  

So the painting, which is strongly emotional and a wee bit intense, softened heaps and loads when it connected with the song.  The body language of the figure now explained, we can move on to enjoying the catchy tune that accompanies a song about bathroom flushing. :)