Reflected City

Reflected City is the original work and inspirational theme for the current abstract gallery show. It was  painted in 1969, in celebration of the birth of daughter Michelle Joy, and graced the walls of her room. Offers to purchase the painting have always been politely refused.  Reflected City isn’t for sale at any price.

As an architect, the artist has always been fascinated by cities that were built near bodies of water. Included are many of the world’s great cities- New York, San Francisco, Hong Kong, Singapore, and many others. In his travels, one became a favorite- Hong Kong. “The reflection in the harbor of Hong Kong’s high rise buildings, particularly at night, is an incredibly beautiful vision to behold.”

Hong Kong became the inspiration for the original Reflected City painting. The palette knife was chosen to execute the work, for its ability to provide the desired heavy, raised relief texture. Acrylic was the chosen medium, on a linen panel.

From the artist: “As a practicing architect for nearly forty years, architectural vision has been a natural inspiration in my art career. That’s most evident in the Reflected City series. Architecture has a profound effect on our lives and you see that in much of the world’s great art. Most of my compositions in this series are abstract, with a bit of realism here and there. The original is, of course, abstract. The theme is deceptively uncomplicated in style, with building upon building represented with strokes of the palette knife. Complexity arises in the way each stroke is applied and blended with the chosen color palette.”

“I’m frequently asked about my inspiration as an artist. I compose my art and paint for the sheer joy of creating. So, as you view my work, if it brings you even a small amount of the joy I find in creating it, then I have achieved my purpose. The process of both creating and appreciating art has long been recognized by the medical and scientific communities as a valuable contribution to our physical and psychological well being. Art can be calming to our spirit, mood elevating, and a positive stimulus to cognitive thinking processes. In simple terms, it just makes us feel good. Need I say more?”

Artist M Crosland