Week 10. "Queen Bee" 12"x12" oil on canvas

Wondering what the face of the Queen Bee from "Zeus and the Queen Bee" looks like? Here she is! This is one of three paintings that will be in the show "Never Think SMALL!- Redux" at Climate/Gallery in Long Island City, Queens beginning Saturday, April 3rd, 2010. The other two pieces I'll be showing are also women as insects. If you'd like to see the them please come see them in person. Click here for directions to the gallery. The opening reception for the show is Saturday evening, April 10th.

Week 8. "Zeus and the Queen Bee" 30"x40"

"A queen bee from Hymettus flew up to Olympus with some fresh honey from the hive as a present to Jupiter, who was so pleased with the gift that he promised to give her anything she liked to ask for. She said she would be very grateful if he would give stings to the bees, to kill people who robbed them of their honey. Jupiter was greatly displeased with this request, for he loved mankind. But he had given his word, so he said that stings they should have. The stings he gave them, however, were of such a kind that whenever a bee stings a man the sting is left in the wound, and the bee dies. Evil wishes, like fowl, come home to roost." Aesop's fable, The Bee and Jupiter as translated by V. S. Vernon Jones.

Week 6. "The Field" 18"x24" oil on canvas

Often, I find that the most difficult thing about a painting is not what to put in, but what to leave out. With every piece I do I am always attempting to make it as universal as possible, meaning I'd like every human, from every part of the earth and of every age to be able to relate to the painting in some way. One of the techniques that I use to achieve this "universality" is to imply objects, people or places, but not to portray them in perfect detail (this also helps me to control what the viewer will focus on most and also, often, to create a sense of movement). Although the face in this piece is in detail, the world in which she inhabits could be anywhere at all; the flowers could be any flowers and the birds could be practically any type. What I'm doing here is asking the viewer to interact with the piece, to use his or her imagination to fill in the blanks. The piece does not tell you that those are roses behind her, but if you have a fondness for roses then that's what they will be. To someone else they may be wildflowers, or tulips, or carnations, or... So, even though the subject is specific, the field could be almost anywhere, it's an archetype, universal.
This is the second and final installment of the "Subject... My Wife" diptych. See Week 4 for the first part, "The Red Room".

Week 4. "The Red Room" 18"x24" oil on canvas

Although I love to create images from scratch out of nothing but my imagination, I also love painting portraits. Being a perfectionist when it comes to painting I never call a piece finished until I feel it's just right. But there is always development, and I think, this painting is a good example of the expressiveness I'm capturing in my portraits these days. The subject helps too, being my favorite one, my wife. If you're interested in commissioning a portrait please email me or see more at www.henrycaserotti.com/portraits.htm.

Week 1. "Icon of Nature, Part II" 36" x48" oil on canvas

So much movement, but in the center is peace. The hot and cold colors are fighting it out in this one. This fish can be a bit hard to find, but then they do often represent the subconscious, do they not?