“Untitled”: inside the studio

John Czwartacki

Sep 18

2 min read

Warning: breaking my rules about over explaining.

Proceed with caution.

This three-foot by three-foot piece was created as a birthday present, with a single prompt: to harmonize with the space above this couch and the impressionist painting hanging on the opposite wall. (Shown below)

Part I: The Palette

I began by establishing a physical connection with the companion painting across the room—a piece I call with deep respect, Heidi. I built a palette using colors that would communicate with her world:

White from the sun-lit clouds, foam, and seagulls.
Blue from the shifting ocean and the girl's swimsuit.
Off-white from the sand and bleached, rocky shore.
Subtle hints of pink from her hair ribbon and skin tones.
Muted green from the sea grass.

Part II: The Internal Landscape

The idyllic scene on the beach represents a fleeting moment of beauty and movement. But as I spent time with Heidi planning my own project, my perspective shifted to how her father would see it. As a father of four, it became obvious.

Standing watch rather than relaxing, he faces the crushing reality that this childhood moment will swiftly pass, just as surely as the sun sets. Yet, he is buoyed by the promise of a future filled with her milestones, grounded in the absolute, fierce protection he offers her today.

Part III: The process

Nine square feet of canvas is a lot bigger than realized. Not a job for my trusty easel. So accept for the final dry brushing, I worked exclusively flat on the floor. Mostly to classical music in my headphones.

What ultimately emerged on the canvas was this internal landscape. The contradictions swirl together—some elements blurring into one another, others stubbornly holding their separate spaces.

Brooding horizons, open seas, and an unfailing hope is what I tried to convey, slicing through the frame. The lower part of the composition is grounded in the recollection of living grasses , yet it is also pierced by a scarlet wound that he will gladly carry.

That emotional bridge is what Untitled is about.