Susan McDonnell Essay
#21 Susan McDonnell (Response Painting)
#20 Daniel Peacock (Visiting Painting)
When I saw the painting I was to respond to I burst out laughing and immediately recognized it as Daniel Peacock’s. My first response was, “this will be fun,” and I thought to simply paint an exuberant abundance of flowers, rainbows, butterflies etc., “You go Girl” in a childlike and playful manner.
It was a challenge not to see Daniel’s other work in my mind when looking at this piece and I had to stop myself from wondering what painting he responded to.
Then I got caught up in the story in the painting. She’s been hurt (stars and ouch mark on her thigh) in love. But she’s put on her boots, she’s looking good, all eyes are wide open, she’s feeling confidant and she’s ready for more! Love that is, and this time she won’t get hurt, this time it will be right.
Two days later with the canvas still blank I determined that I was over-thinking it and started painting an abstract background. I like to give paintings some history with the under-painting and I knew that once the ball was rolling an idea would happen. With Daniel’s character in mind I imagined the trials she had been through and at one point the painting was looking pretty mucky. I cleaned it up a bit by painting a light green pattern of amorphous shapes over the canvas. Then came three layers of transparent blue. Blue skies ahead.
At this point I painted from my personal experience. Being reconnected with a love whose time is right. The past cuts have got me here and even the muck has produced beauty. Mainly I see the truth as the optimism and possibilities of love. O