Encounters with Vincent van Gogh: (Tribute to the Sunflower Man Vincent van Gogh: Oct - April 2001)

 

The Sunflower Man ia my response to Vincent van Gogh and his work. The Vincent room is always so crowded, so I never enter that room except to view. I wish the National Gallery had one of his portraits, but one could argue that all of his paintings are self portraits. His work has such spirit, like a ghost. Like a crown of thorns I outlined a portrait with sunflower petals.

 

Poem titled: Dear Theo

 

Sunflower Man. Oil on linen. 36 x 48 inches. Oct - Dec 2000 available through Modern Artists Gallery

Vincent face the sun

hold on to your gun

Can you hear me?

see me?

I am a chair

I am a flower

blowin' in the

open fields

Sunflower seeds harvesting

inside of me

Raw sienna

Cadmium yellow

and cobalt blue

are the colours I choose

What else can I do?

Vibrating grass

Sunflower Man. oil on canvas. 10 x 12 inches. Spring 2001. NFS Private Collection of the Artist.

empty canvas

Now there is nothing left

but these cold paintings

these vibrating portraits

and couples walking hand in hand

Dear Brother

Do you understand?

Do you have a light

in this starry night?

 

(written 1996)

 

 

 

Sunflower Man. Oil on canvas. 10 x 12 inches. Spring 2001. Private Collection of Peggy Gibson (Gift)

 

 

 

 

 

I gave this painting to Peggy Gibson as a gift to thank her for her tremendous support and encouragement.

 

 

thank you

Patrick

 

 

 

 

 

Tate Series (photo 27). Tribute to Vincent van Gogh. (Nov 11th 2002).

I found this chair as photographed. The sunflowers were about one hundred feet away... like laying flowers on a grave stone I placed them next to the chair.

With my finger I printed the name Tate (to give reference, reflections to the Tate Modern).

 

Sunflower. oil on page from book. 2006