I had a visit this weekend from Bay Area artist Les Phillips. We had great fun reminiscing about art and teaching, then he gently reminded me that it has been far too long since I have posted here. Hence, what follows below:

Dreaming that I am awake, 1983, oil on canvas

For the past several months I have been in the final stages of editing/proofing the book about the Four Triptychs of the Nada Farm Museum of Archetypes (NFMOA) and preparing to put all of my attention on the completion of the website I am building to support the book, where I hope to also present comprehensive portfolios of my work in various media. It was in that latter pursuit that I came across a slide of the above painting, which I have not seen since the 1980s. It is in a private collection.

As soon as I saw the image I wanted to see it more. I created a large digital color print of it and am having it framed so I can enjoy it all the time. The above image will be in the “Paintings” portfolio of the new website – robertcomings.com.

This painting toys with the mind of the viewer, providing bits and pieces of recognizable parts of the human (?) face. Just as soon as we decide where its eyes, nose, mouth, ears are located, another way to read the image pops onto our internal screen as the first one dissolves. This is a way of working that permeates the Four Triptychs and a lot of other works I have created in different forms and different media. And is key to the way I work with decalcomania in any medium.

The title Dreaming that I am awake describes the psychic tension and elusive balance that the painting generates. That state of mind is my hometown.

I hope to get back to more regular posting here fairly soon. The book has been uploaded to the printer and should be available in about a month. I need to finish the website ASAP. I will be posting various works that catch my eye as I transform them into webfood. I am so eager to have the book and the website behind me.