Lola Jovan Art Musings and Random Thoughts

The Stranger

2/12/2024

"The Stranger" - oil on gallery wrapped linen canvas
30 x 30 x 1.5 inches. Ready to hang.
(click on the image to purchase)

Well, when I was a young man
My professor at university
Said, "Advice is corrupting
Don't ever be trusting
Don't show your emotion
Human suffering is an ocean
And it's dark at the bottom of the sea
And there's no such thing as a stranger
They're all equally backwards and wrong
Sharpen axes, not wits
Bones are broken by sticks
And you never be free till you're strong
- from STRANGER by Ben Caplan

The Stranger

At some point along the journey in this life, I decided life is a musical.

Everywhere there is a soundtrack, a little skip or dance, dramatic arm gestures and unexpected butterflies and moonbeams and thunderclaps, sorrowful ballads and curtains opened and closed. Ben Caplan's song feels like the gritty musical theme to a wild rumpus in the studio.

This piece, a paint-over of another large character piece, captures a theme that has also persisted through much of my art life - moons and balloons. Mystery and whimsy. Who is this suited stranger?

Art is autobiographical
it always means something -
something about me

My insides, my demons, my outsides, opinions
things churning
up something to see

But people are not so unique
our patterns repeat and persist
I can see you in there
You can see me in here
We are all tangled up
(and so often banged up)
Resemblance is not to be missed.
- LOLA

About the art: I sketched directly on top of an old painting with a long handled brush and thinned paint. Beginning by roughing in the figure (working from the center outward to preserve/protect the whites) and then the background. Using rubber wedge, paper towels, brushes and fingers, keeping loose loose loose. Some palette knife work on the spacesuit to add texture, then liberal application of oil-thinned paint over the wet background to let it run.

Many weeks of drying time on this big painting. It is a reminder in the studio to always be exploring!

It's time for the FEBRUARY READER CHALLENGE! Channel your inner composer and lyricist - if your life were a musical, what would it be called? Extra points if you've got some lyrics to share. :)

The winner will be chosen at random by Wonder Mike at the end of the. month, and will receive a piece of art FREE! Woot!

6 Comments

Author

Lola Jovan

Dotty Seiter gmail link

2/12/2024 09:31:06 am

Well, look through my faceplate—you WILL see me in there! You've painted me just a SPLIT second ahead of my taking a little skip, breaking into dance, swinging my arms dramatically, about to let go of the string on my moon balloon and twirl in a show-tune tap number with unexpected butterflies in the milky light of moonbeams.

lola

2/12/2024 06:18:02 pm

Dotty!!!! I can just SEE you in the milky light of moonbeams...how magical! HOORAY!

Mary W. Cox

2/12/2024 10:34:00 am

I find Ben Caplan's lyrics way too violent--yours are better: "I can see you in there/You can see me in here." But I do like the truth that "There's no such thing as a stranger"--like it or not, we are all versions of the same humanity, with all its potential for good and evil. Your spaceman (or woman?) might also be a first responder in protective gear, come to scoop us out of harm's way in fire or flood. Or a visitor from a more advanced civilization. You paint prompts for imagining!

My "musical" would be Thursday's Child. Long, long ago, I made up a song about "Thursday's child has far to go..."; I don't remember any of it but the refrain, which I intended to be a promise, not a threat: "And I'll still have far to go, and I'll still have far to go." At age maybe 16, anticipating future adventures--here at age almost-82, knowing that "far to go" encompasses all of this life, and then all of eternity. Big ideas!

2/12/2024 06:21:26 pm

Mary!!! Thanks soooo much for your comment. "we are all versions of the same humanity" - yes! And I love the idea of the spaceperson as a first responder. A whole new way to see this piece!

"Thursday's Child - The Musical" - oh oh OH! I feel that one so hugely. Far to go - indeed I have so far to go, and I would be in the front row of your musical, nodding and feeling every tune.

Thank you so much for entering this month's Reader Challenge! The winner will be announced at the end of the month. xo

Carol Edan link

2/15/2024 03:28:50 am

Yes, I agree with Mary, his words are quite violent. We do, however, live in violent times. I did enjoy the Jewish influence in his lyrics.
On a more positive note! That's a young boy, already dressing up in his Purim costume! It will be difficult to eat his hamantaschen!

2/15/2024 03:50:02 pm

Carol!!! I love the way you see this character! Brilliant! For sure Caplan's music is gritty and violent, as are the times. Perhaps that's why I am drawn to it?

The Jewish influence really captures my musical senses, and gives it a rhythm and lyricism that I just love. xo

The Stranger

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