Original artwork description:

This painting, titled Vivite, is the second edition in what I am now calling my Storybook Series. It has evolved a lot since I first started it. He was going to be on a chunk of earth, but I liked the idea of him being propelled upwards into space by fire. It creates a sense of urgency but is balanced by the calm demeanor of his pose. I also liked the idea of the stump signifying time and age and the earth. He is finding his way by listening to the infinite wisdom of the universe.

During this painting, I was listening to the podcast S-Town. If you haven't listened to it, you should, it's fantastic. It covers themes such as time, climate change, societal collapse, universal truths, beauty and solitude. I can't help but think it influenced my painting.

I didn't realize until after I was finished with the painting, that it was the love child of The Little Price and David Bowie's song, Space Oddity.
"I'm floating in the most peculiar way.
And the stars look very different today.
For here am I sitting in a tin can
Far above the world
Planet Earth is blue
And there's nothing I can do"

Materials used:

professional grade oil paints

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