Misery

"Misery" is an oil painting that was inspired by observing my wife during the winter time. 

I had done several sketches and drawings of Maria in an attempt to bring something to light that was worthy of an oil painting, but kept coming up short. I sat down in front of the canvas one morning to start hashing out ideas and finally I had her side profile on the canvas, but wasn't quite happy with it. I took a break and began studying the works of Paul Klee, "Ad Marginem" in particular, and was wondering how he was able to get such an effect with oils. 

When I sat back down and looked at my painting, I became extremely frustrated and wiped everything off with a rag. Lo and behold, just enough oil was left to texture the canvas and I had an effect similar to Klee's; I knew at that instance I had to keep it. I finished the painting by adding the dark silhouette of a bundled up woman. If you look closely enough, you can see the old outline of my wife's face in the background. 

My wife hates the winter and is usually bundled up as a mass of clothes and blankets, hence the covered up silhouette and the name "Misery".