“THE HOUSE GUEST” by David Mueller

This painting is part of a group, almost a current trend, with which I enjoy playing in a tall narrow space. I call them my "Bookmarks", akin to what you see in actual bookmarks as you browse the gift shop on your way out of the Met art museum. Our imaginations can envision what is cut off to the left or the right... What is revealed can be a wonderful play of light pieces on dark, as in this piece. Other times it can be dark pieces on light or even dark and light on a middle toned background. I call them puzzle pieces of light. In this case, I also used something that is near and dear to me, which is elements of figurative, balanced with something decorative. The model leaning down to engage with the small blue winged creature is wearing striped long socks. She also sits in front of a decorative backdrop. The imagery in the background is of something decorative. I think stamped tin panel that I saw in an art museum, possibly Cincinnati's.. Once I placed the model in front of the backdrop, leaning down the painting, had it unresolved aspect to it... why was she leaning down?... So I decided to introduce the bluebird The species, which I enjoy watching frolic as I have my morning coffee every morning out the back sunroom window of my home.. I knew it would be a wonderful completion to my composition, in color and arrangement and also a wonderful story dynamic being told. Only one question remains... who is the houseguest?? The viewer can decide:) I like to custom frame some pieces and make the frame indeed a part of the art. In this case, the frame molding is window molding from an arts and crafts leaded glass window. It has texture and imperfections in the varnish. In one spot where there was an imperfection in the middle lower panel, I covered it with a brass keyhole shape element which I thought helped to tell the story even further and provided and added simple decorative element. The frame molding also Because of variations in the width from side rails to top and bottom ones.. created an offset which gave me the idea to put small lighter colored wood 'wings' at the top and bottom outside corners of the frame. I thought it added something unique. Almost art deco styling element to the frame.