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Detail of squirrel coming out from under bustier into the flower skirt.
Detail of bustier's jewel bug fasteners; Chanel label; and birds nesting.
Detail of flower skirt hem.
Detail of one of the birds constructing the Merry Widow.
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VIEW IN MY ROOM

The Merry Widow Painting

Susan McLaughlin

United States

Painting, Acrylic on Canvas

Size: 36 W x 48 H x 2 D in

Ships in a Crate

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SOLD
Originally listed for $8,000
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92 Views
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About The Artwork

The work was INSPIRED BY floral party dresses I hope VIEWERS WILL FEEL as enthralled by and connected to nature as I am. The Merry Widow’s abundant flower bouquet is, of course, a natural element. I have turned it upside down, though, so it becomes a stand-in for a woman’s skirt. This symbolism serves as a playful suggestion and subtle clue illuminating the symbiotic relationship we have-or should have-with the natural world. The animals and insects not only inhabit the skirt, but are also protected by it in the same way that a fabric skirt protects a woman’s fragile body. In similar fashion the microscopically-rendered decorative jewel insects serve as clasps on the bodice. Not only do these exotic fasteners embellish the bodice, but they also keep it closed, thereby protecting that which lies within. The birds have created The Merry Widow from a combination of natural flowers and man made objects–ribbons and a found bustier of unknown provenance–but they also are nesting in their creation. Perhaps the wide-open mouths in the birds’ nests symbolize how much our fragile environment needs our help. MEDIUM, SUBJECT MATTER, STYLE: I used acrylic paint on a large linen canvas to capture the strength that we can attain when there is harmony between humanity and nature. I joined a bustier (a man made object) with flowers (nature) to fashion an harmonious union between mankind and nature. I used a realistic rendering style because there is nothing more visually striking than flowers, birds, sky and mankind.

Details & Dimensions

Painting:Acrylic on Canvas

Original:One-of-a-kind Artwork

Size:36 W x 48 H x 2 D in

Shipping & Returns

Delivery Time:Typically 5-7 business days for domestic shipments, 10-14 business days for international shipments.

As a painter, I am an explorer, uncovering, recording and rearranging the beauty of the natural world, as well as the beauty of human beings. I select and distill the very essence of my subject, harmony between nature and humanity, sometimes combining the two. This symbiosis makes the finished work even more beautiful than either of its constituents alone. When you first visit my fantasy world, you will notice a lot of extraordinary things going on in my paintings. For instance, I might substitute a bird for a hat, or a butterfly for a bowtie. These unusual substitutions function as symbols and provide subtle clues and playful suggestions about my work. The shapes of birds and hats, or butterflies and bowties, are so similar that viewers never even question the replacements. I pick the substitutes because they fit graphically and visually. But it is more than that. We as humans fit with nature. We fit together so well, in fact, that I am able to paint a natural object–a butterfly–in place of the bowtie–and viewers can see this as truth. My world will refresh you with its vibrant colors, textures, and interchangeable shapes as you immerse yourself in the integration of nature and humanity. You will be at peace with yourself and at one with nature. You will experience nature in a totally new way and see beauty in places where you never before thought to look.

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