High Water

High Water
8x8 inch oil painting on textured masonite.
Edged in mars black and varnished with Gamvar in a satin finish. Hardware installed for convenient displaying. 
 
From the Painting Songs collection, a dragon is perched patiently waiting on a fishing dock behind their rider, cloaked in black. After a tremulous battle, the rider sags in defeat on the dock, reflecting on the events passed and their effect in the overall war. While a calm and serene piece, the inner battle manages to rage, much like how water never ceases movement no matter how calm the shores. 
 
Inspired by the song High Water, by Sleep Token, particularly the line: "For the time being, I will admit my defeat." All of the motifs depicted are a direct reflection to the artists personal health crisis, as this piece was painted shortly after the artist was cardioverted for SVT. In a time where it feels impossible to move on in a strong and honorable way, a little pause is okay. The piece was painted painstakingly and through health trials over a two live events, and the day it sold, the artist had to be taken by ambulance to the ER. Further more these events are testiments to the strength we find withing ourselves: our inner dragons.