BREAKING US IN TWO (2010) by Michael Whelan

Acrylic - 8” x 6”

Michael Whelan’s facility with texture is ridiculous.  Consider the size of the piece and the detail of flaking paint over rusting, pitted metal and the viewer begins to understand the artist’s skill and obsession.  The strip of masking tape adds to a tactile experience that transcends words.

This small painting began like most in the “Signs of the Times” subset, as a morning warmup exercise.  Hard to believe it isn’t a photograph, but simply acrylic paint on smooth panel.