Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Mourning Light


"Mourning Light" (6x8") Oil on masonite.

7 comments:

Mary Bullock said...

What are your thoughts behind the title -"Mourning Light" instead of "Morning Light"?

Love your work - water is extrememly hard to paint and you do a marvelous job!

Mary

Todd Bonita said...

Hi Mary,

My father-in-law passed away last month and I've been thinking about healing and how it takes one-day-at-a-time. The first light of a new morning brings another day to this process. This is a reflective piece for me. I don't know if you've ever experienced something like this but every morning when I rise first thing, my mind sometimes isn't quite awake yet, it's free of thought...and then it hits you.."oh yeah, he's gone".

To me this painting is lit with early morning sun light..the kind that suddenly becomes sharp and definitive..maybe a cloud moved out of the way momentarily..this painting is that moment when it hits you.

Mary Bullock said...

Todd:
I am so sorry to hear about your Father-in-law's passing. The title takes on a whole new meaning, especially with the boat being empty - very poignant.
My mother passed away a few years ago, and it is still so hard to know that I can never talk to her again. Our art provides great comfort to take us through the process of healing, don't you think?
All the best - Mary

Todd Bonita said...

Hi Mary,

I'll bet a day doesn't go by that you don't have her in your thoughts. regarding art providing comfort through the healing process, thats definitely the case with me personally. I'll bet a lot of artist would agree.

laine lea said...

LOVE This PIECE tOM - AS MOST OF YOUR WORK. Sorry to hear of your loss..its so hard. Both my parents are decrease (22 and 6 yerars ago) I still miss them greatly.
HAPPY PAINTING!

Helen Read said...

I always love the way you do boats and water! This is particularly nice with its reflectivity!

Todd Bonita said...

Laine and Helen,

Thanks to you both for looking and commenting, I appreciate it.