The Highwayman

The Highwayman

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"The Highwayman" - oil on cradled wood panel, 18 x 24 x 1.5 inches.  This item is unframed but ready to hang (click on the image to purchase)

The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees.   
The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas.   
The road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor,   
And the highwayman came riding--
         Riding—riding--
The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn-door.
- ALFRED NOYES

Sometimes when the world is turbulent, poetry, prose, music and art is a lovely refuge.  A place to rest and rejuvenate.  And sometimes a place to find inspiration for creation.

Only this one happened backwards.  

This foxy dude has been subjected to layers and layers, all to let the artist play with drawing back into the wet paint with a rubber wedge, forming texture upon texture.  He has looked at me quizzically, wondering when on earth I would finally walk away and say ENOUGH ALREADY!  But it wasn't until being reminded of this poem that this fox could be called finished.  

I like to imagine another realm where foxes wear dashing clothing and traverse the highway on horseback, becoming fodder for legends of daring and perhaps mischievous acts.  Where they unexpectedly fall in love along the way under a ghostly galleon​ moon and we cheer them on, even though they might be ne'er-do-wells and rascals. 

Because I think, perhaps, we might need a host of rascally highwaymen (and highwaywomen) to band together and take on the world soon.  To fight for the squirrels, the rabbits, the owls and the cats.  To brave unthinkable odds along the roadways in the darkness, finding goodness and love and light.  I know just the dude to get it started. :)

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Congratulations to Todd and to Dotty!  Wonder Mike chose your names as winners of the February Reader Giveaway!  Thanks  a bunch for reading and commenting. Send your mailing address to  [email protected] and your free art will be in the mail right away!  And thank you to everyone who participated this month, and to all of the new subscribers and readers from Bluesky!

​A new giveaway begins one week from today.  Leave a comment on any blog post during the month of March to be automatically entered.  One (or more) lucky commenters will win a piece of original art - free!