Baggage

“Baggage"

MMMMM Series
(Merton Maxi Meaningful Mixed Media Series)

© Merton Parrish
All rights reserved

NOTES ON THIS PARTICULAR PIECE IN THIS SERIES:

This piece is a metaphorical representation of the fact that we humans come with all sorts of baggage (particularly when we get a bit of mileage on us!). The convertible, bicycle, and (humorously) the pogo stick refer to life as a journey. And, each of these modes of transportation are depicted with all sorts of suitcases, valises, etc., since, as we go along, we get more and more emotional "stuff" to cart about with us.

We work on being in the now, letting go, thinking of only the now as real, etc., but it is not easy. Notice the road signs. They are full of directions we might go, which might help us in dealing with all of this baggage.

This one is a bit programmatic... but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless!


NOTES ON THIS SERIES:

The MMMMM Series (Merton Maxi Meaningful Mixed Media Series) was begun in 2011 by myself, Merton Parrish, in my “house of many studios.” I completed it mostly in my bedroom studio, where I spend a great deal of time lately (and in which I now, with some recent modifications, can draw, ink, traditionally colorize, photograph, scan, edit and post). Some of the work, however, was done in the den drawing studio, during tv with hubby, or late at night when I could not sleep and needed not to wake hubby with a bright “art light,” marker/pencil scratches/squeaks, airbrush “pssssh’es,” etc.

The series consists of large (“maxi”) mixed media works which tend to be on meaningful themes (to Mertons and other humans). These were originally pencil drawings on large, frequently recycled art boards, cardboards, or painted/gessoed-over prints in large frames. After the pencil drawings were finished (as is common with me of late) the pieces were inked with fine black pen. Then, they were colorized traditionally (by hand) with mediums from amongst the following list:

*colored pencil
*pastel pencil
*Copic markers
*Copic marker with aircan airbrush attachment

This series, like many of my groupings of original art, may be added to in the future. I rather enjoyed doing these large, “maxi” works, and feel that their size adds to their impact. The pieces are anywhere from about the dimensions of a big fish (think exaggerating fishermen, saying, “It was THIS big!”) to several which fit in some nice, big frames purchased by my parents at a hoighty toighty furniture store (the sort of frames designed to hold large art prints and take up substantial wall space behind a couch). So, the larger pieces in the series are pretty good size.

Now, if I can only figure out a way to do some of those REALLY big art pieces… the kind one sees covering entire walls of a certain, ever-present coffee house chain, of great renown. That would be cool. Maybe I can talk hubby into turning our garage into a big art studio, after all. Hmmm… “It could happen!” as comedian Judy Tenuta would say! Wink.

I can dream, can’t I?

(I should get busy manifesting and follow my own rhetoric, now shouldn’t I!?!