The Solar System

$4,500 (set of 10)

I still remember the fist time sleeping in the desert with no light pollution. I thought my soul would explode. Seeing the beaming planets against the multi layered Milky Way made an impression. Painting the planets keeps me in touch with the emotions from this first experience.

Category: Celestial
Medium: Acrylic on wood palette
Dimensions: 12'x6' wall space

Sun—36" diameter. The sun is built from swirling brushwork in yellow, gold, and white with drifts of grey and brown across the surface. The circular support becomes the body of the star itself. At thirty-six inches across it is the largest piece in t

Sun—36" diameter. The sun is built from swirling brushwork in yellow, gold, and white with drifts of grey and brown across the surface. The circular support becomes the body of the star itself. At thirty-six inches across it is the largest piece in the set.

Mercury—10" diameter. The smallest planet is rendered on a round palette in deep blue-grey and near-black, its cratered surface marked by fine white scratches and small impact points. One side falls into complete shadow. The restrained palette suits

Mercury—10" diameter. The smallest planet is rendered on a round palette in deep blue-grey and near-black, its cratered surface marked by fine white scratches and small impact points. One side falls into complete shadow. The restrained palette suits a body with no atmosphere to soften it.

Venus—16" diameter. A pale, clouded sphere in soft white, grey, and blue with faint traces of peach and rust breaking through. The brushwork sweeps diagonally across the surface, suggesting dense moving atmosphere. Nothing solid resolves beneath the

Venus—16" diameter. A pale, clouded sphere in soft white, grey, and blue with faint traces of peach and rust breaking through. The brushwork sweeps diagonally across the surface, suggesting dense moving atmosphere. Nothing solid resolves beneath the cloud layer.

Earth—20" diameter, Moon—6" diameter. Earth is painted in deep ocean blue with the Americas visible in green and gold beneath swirls of white cloud. A smaller palette holds the moon in grey and white. The pair keeps the scale relationship between the

Earth—20" diameter, Moon—6" diameter. Earth is painted in deep ocean blue with the Americas visible in green and gold beneath swirls of white cloud. A smaller palette holds the moon in grey and white. The pair keeps the scale relationship between the two bodies intact.

Mars—12" diameter. Mars is rendered in unexpected pinks and magentas shot through with charcoal and pale blue. Loose horizontal brushwork suggests dust storms sweeping across the surface. The choice of pink over conventional rust red gives the planet

Mars—12" diameter. Mars is rendered in unexpected pinks and magentas shot through with charcoal and pale blue. Loose horizontal brushwork suggests dust storms sweeping across the surface. The choice of pink over conventional rust red gives the planet an unfamiliar, atmospheric quality.

Jupiter—30" diameter. Jupiter fills the palette with horizontal cloud bands in cream, rust, sage, and pale blue, layered with visible brush texture. The Great Red Spot sits low and right of center as a swirling orange oval. Small dark points scattere

Jupiter—30" diameter. Jupiter fills the palette with horizontal cloud bands in cream, rust, sage, and pale blue, layered with visible brush texture. The Great Red Spot sits low and right of center as a swirling orange oval. Small dark points scattered across the bands read as storm activity.

Saturn—30" diameter. Saturn sits at the center of a black painted field, its banded body running through pink, yellow, green, and blue with a silver-white ring system cutting across at an angle. Faint stars are scattered through the surrounding dark.

Saturn—30" diameter. Saturn sits at the center of a black painted field, its banded body running through pink, yellow, green, and blue with a silver-white ring system cutting across at an angle. Faint stars are scattered through the surrounding dark. It is the only planet in the set shown with space painted around it rather than filling the palette edge to edge.

Uranus—24" diameter. Uranus is rendered in vertical sweeps of cyan, cobalt, and deep blue. The brushwork runs top to bottom rather than in horizontal bands, a nod to the planet's tilted axis. No surface features interrupt the color.

Uranus—24" diameter. Uranus is rendered in vertical sweeps of cyan, cobalt, and deep blue. The brushwork runs top to bottom rather than in horizontal bands, a nod to the planet's tilted axis. No surface features interrupt the color.

Neptune—24" diameter. Neptune is painted in dense cobalt and royal blue with lighter cyan streaks moving through the surface. A dark oval storm sits right of center, ringed with brighter blue. The deep saturated color separates it clearly from the pa

Neptune—24" diameter. Neptune is painted in dense cobalt and royal blue with lighter cyan streaks moving through the surface. A dark oval storm sits right of center, ringed with brighter blue. The deep saturated color separates it clearly from the paler blue of Uranus.

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