24 × 30 oil on canvas
The Bliss of Icarus reimagines the familiar myth not through the tragedy of the fall, but through the exhilaration that came before it. A dog rolls with complete abandon upon the dark wing of a raven, absorbed in a moment of uncomplicated, physical joy.
The story of Icarus is so often remembered as a warning against reaching too far. Yet before the fall, there was flight: the impossible experience of leaving the earth behind, of entering the open sky, and of surrendering completely to wonder.
To the dog, however, the fallen wing is not a symbol of tragedy at all. It is something irresistible: earthy, physical, and wonderfully alive with scent. He has no interest in the cautionary tale beneath him. There is no anticipation of consequence and no attempt to preserve the moment. There is only the experience itself, fully inhabited.
The Bliss of Icarus reflects on the deeply personal nature of joy and the value of those moments when delight outweighs caution. What appears foolish, unpleasant, or even tragic from one perspective may be bliss from another. The painting holds space for the possibility that a life measured only by avoiding the fall might also miss the extraordinary experience of having flown.
Limited edition signed/numbered giclee prints available
24 × 30 oil on canvas
The Bliss of Icarus reimagines the familiar myth not through the tragedy of the fall, but through the exhilaration that came before it. A dog rolls with complete abandon upon the dark wing of a raven, absorbed in a moment of uncomplicated, physical joy.
The story of Icarus is so often remembered as a warning against reaching too far. Yet before the fall, there was flight: the impossible experience of leaving the earth behind, of entering the open sky, and of surrendering completely to wonder.
To the dog, however, the fallen wing is not a symbol of tragedy at all. It is something irresistible: earthy, physical, and wonderfully alive with scent. He has no interest in the cautionary tale beneath him. There is no anticipation of consequence and no attempt to preserve the moment. There is only the experience itself, fully inhabited.
The Bliss of Icarus reflects on the deeply personal nature of joy and the value of those moments when delight outweighs caution. What appears foolish, unpleasant, or even tragic from one perspective may be bliss from another. The painting holds space for the possibility that a life measured only by avoiding the fall might also miss the extraordinary experience of having flown.
Limited edition signed/numbered giclee prints available
