hope

Judgement Seat from Jeff Del Nero on Vimeo.

How do you depict forgiveness? How do you show the regret for sin? I have this painting that has a bird on a chair. In the both the Old and New Testaments there is reference to birds being used as sacrifices for certain types of sin. This painting is a very simplistic way of me showing Christ as that sacrifice. The bird is on the “Judgement Seat” and is free to fly away at any time. But there it is, willing and ready to be the sacrifice.

This painting has features that I love about being an artist. You can put images together, and people can react to them. I have heard the gambit on this one, from “depressing to hopeful.” Another element that I love about a painting is its confined area. In this size of a canvas all there is to consider is what is listed before you. I have a composition that aligns all of the elements towards the center. Definitely inspired by Giorgio Morandi, there’s no hiding that. He had his ways of grouping elements into a very challenging composition – usually it is more aesthetic to place objects in still life’s in a manner that gives rhythm and space to appeal. I like the in-your-face way his compositions say; “this is what I want to show.”

Painting is a great way to tell a story, because the viewer can spend as much time or as little time viewing (investing) to figure out the “story.” Books and Film are not as cooperative with your schedule. They say people spend less than 30 seconds looking at a work of art at any given time. One thing I hope to have in my work is enough to come back to and surmise about on the next viewing.