Watching Over . 24x30 inches . 2011





 1. natural light
2. artificial light
3. artificial and black light
4. blacklight only
5. darkness

When my collector Tina and I first discussed the making of this painting, she asked me to make it as Light Reactive as possible, using lots of glass and phosphorescent pigments. Done and done.

The moon shifts from violet to blue-green, depending on the time of day. The ocean waves shift from gold to white to green.

It's one of those pieces that can't be fully appreciated through the lens of a camera since it changes so distinctly as you walk past it. Two people standing on either side of the painting will think it's a different color.

I love making stuff. :)

Moon over water paintings are possibly my favorite pieces to do. It's not just that I find the concept and end result to be peaceful, but the very act of creating it and experiencing its progress puts me in a calm state of mind. (Something I often need anyway, especially when I have lots of work to do.)

Tina's father passed away a few months ago, just before I began work on this painting. Everyone called him Kick. I wrote his name underneath the moon, and I hope that this artwork will honor him and serve as a beacon of peace and serenity for Tina and her family. 


4 comments:

Emily said...

Blues, greens, purples, the moon, water...the incredible iridescence and unearthly glow...all my favorite elements of a Shayla Maddox painting in one :) Love it!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful! Looks like a vision, dreamlike, serene and alive at the same time. :-)

Shayla Maddox said...

thanks, ladies :D

Heather said...

Gorgeous. Someday I will be able to own one of your works. Until then, I will just enjoy them from afar via the internet. Keep on make such beauty.