Help Name 'Untitled Crown' - A New Painting by ~ANT

Tuesday's Story
A 'Flash of Lightning' Creates a Untitled Crown - A new painting by ~ANT

[post update: Naming Untitled Crown - vote for your top 5 names]

Often think of ideas that I would like to present and/or paint. How do I come up with an image that accurately depicts the message of my idea? I roll through my head multiple image-ideas and one will flash like a sudden lightning strike. This new image-idea is brighter, more intense, with a clarity that previous ideas didn't have. While still in my head I take my 'lightning strike" flash turning it over and over. I think of colors, presentation, size, and overall... what system do I have through construction and painting that will present the image-idea at it's best?

Excited, the next day I will jump into my 'lightning strike' flash of an idea getting the basics of construction started. The smells of the table saw's electrics, fresh cut lumber, glues and adhesives, and later onto the thick Mylanta-esqe Gesso... Mmmmmm. I can taste the sawdust in my mouth!

I would be pulling a ruse if I actually took the 'flash' of an image-idea one night, then started the very next day. This is so rare. I consider my ideas 'diamonds in the rough'... and some of those rough diamonds were just shiny geodes. Sometimes, in the end the 'lighting strike' was nothing more than a split tree singed and scarred by the brainstorm of yesterday.

This is where Untitled Crown comes in. I have been tossing this image-idea around in my head for four months or so. When the flash of a lightning strike hits me, but sticks around lingering for months on end, the only way to extinguish the flame is by producing the artwork. Does this mean the idea is a diamond?

In a scene from the movie Pollock, Jackson Pollock (Ed Harris) is showing his latest work to a group of friends. Nobody is happy with the painting and they all agree much to his chagrin... sometimes you miss. I might have a diamond, but with the wrong cut, the clarity and brilliance will never shine through. Yep, I still might miss. Ah... that is the nature of art, but no worries. That's how I learn to do better next time!

The 'flash' of Untitled Crown struck over and over. My charred brain could not get this lightning strike image-idea out of my head. Time for artwork. To plan out the idea-image I started with two 9 inch by 12 inch concepts using acrylic and oil pastels on 140lb watercolor paper. Based off concepts 1 (one) and 2 (two), I wanted to make some adjustments to the final 11 inch by 14 inch, acrylic only painting.

The first adjustment would be to the character laying down holding up the trophy. I wanted this character shown as a whole person. Also, I didn't care for the creature coming in off the top left corner in the concepts. For the final version of the artwork I decided to stick with the image in my head of a demanding character standing 'pissed off' over the trophy winner. Lastly, neither concept showed the sun in the top right corner with the dramatic flair needed to suggest a 'spiritual' influence. In the final version, following the path of the painting, the trophy character's apparent flotation was found while it also showed the sun's needed dramatization.

With flair the 'spirits' are shining down on me and are pleased. I have done everything I can and I am taking home the trophy whether it is sport, volunteering, website coding, or artwork. I wanted to convey the feeling of a proud win, but in the end show sometimes it is not enough. I could be floating on 'cloud 9' and yet I haven't had the chance to revel in my accomplishment for just one second. When you win a NASCAR cup race the hat dance takes 2-3 hours. I haven't even had the chance to put the trophy down and yet I already have somebody else screaming. Ain't life a bitch sometimes!?!?

Is Untitled Crown a diamond, a crown jewel, a trophy worth taking home? Is the artwork a hit or miss? That's for ya'll to decide!

I have purposely mis-named the title Untitled Crown since there is no 'crown' in the artwork hoping for a lively suggestion of a title for this work.

Please understand.... if you I use your title suggestion I have to retain all copyrights to this title. At the same time, I really appreciate the suggestions and don't want to turn any idea away due to a copyright issue. The suggestions are a lot of fun for me and the opportunity to know what the fans think and see in my artwork... yup, priceless!

Thank you!!
~ANT
ANTworkstudio