Acquired for Private Collection
I’ve always loved when a title and an image can mean two completely different things at the exact same time.
Left Alone is one of those paintings for me.
There’s something really beautiful about being left alone. Having a moment to yourself, not needing to answer to anyone, and just existing without the expectations of other people. But there’s also something really terrifying about being left alone. Being forgotten, abandoned, or realizing someone isn’t coming back.
And I think the difference between those two feelings can be incredibly small.
I wanted this painting to exist somewhere in the middle. Is he leaning back and enjoying a moment of peace? Or is he sitting there completely defeated? I don’t necessarily want to answer that. I think it depends on what you’re bringing to the painting when you look at it.
Visually, I was also playing with the contrast between really bright, almost playful colors and a much heavier emotional setting. I love the idea that something can be loud and colorful without necessarily being happy. I was also experimenting with simplifying and streamlining my painting process, figuring out how to get more intentional with my shapes, colors, and layers.
And, of course, I couldn’t resist some stripes and a bunch of heavy black outlines.
I think what I love most about Left Alone is that neither interpretation is wrong. Maybe today you see someone finally getting the peace they’ve been craving. Maybe tomorrow you see someone wishing they weren’t sitting there by themselves.
Either way, I think most of us know exactly how both feel.