Ancestors at Work by Steevie Parks

30x30 inches, 3lbs
 
oil paint, canvas
 
This painting evolved intuitively from a pure abstract to a recognizable painting human beings involved in some sort of intense relationship with one another. I only started seeing multiple figures appear towards the end. I decided to make the figures fully visible to the viewer and ended up completely blurring the background.
 
The meaning that I assigned to the painting evolved naturally as I moved the limbs and bodies around and around until I found the positions that seemed to fit best.
Only when it was complete, did it occur to me that I had created a piece about my ancestors working hard to lay the groundwork for the life that I have created for myself on earth. The meaning applies both to those ancestors working from 'the beyond', as well as those who have actually laid the groundwork for my life by working day to day in the real world. I would like to think that the meaning that viewer's will assign to it will be subject to each of their unique interpretations based on their own private associations.