Chuck Larivey
According to Chuck Larivey, “Sometimes we surprise ourselves and take little diversions from our norm, our main substance, and pursue a new tasty treat. Art is like that! Last year while painting a few koi in a lily pond, a recipe I know well became the blueprint for a mystical fantasy world without humans. The mysterious and illusive Sirens of the sea, mermaids. Creatures from our illustrious seafaring folklore.”
The big question for Larivey was if there would be mermen, and of course, he would include them as “fearsome protectors of their mates.” Larivey says this suggests that a key component to the series would be courtship. The first painting of the new works was Her Guardian, which “suggested an exposed primitive and perhaps violent world,” the artist explains. “After all fish eat fish.”
Soon he left that idea behind in favor of a more romantic theme. “First, I wanted to explore the creatures themselves. What would they look like as individuals, and as pairs engaged in ritual courtships?” he says. “A good subject or series will develop a storyline with the ability to expand with time. There are exploratory paintings, sometimes called studies, that lead or culminate to one or more major works and then pause. I found pauses were necessary
to keep any concept fresh. The first pause lasted eight months when I began thinking about settings for my mer-creatures, a learning curve ensued and settled down to a theme of ‘Under Lily Pads,’ courtship and romance. It’s my hope that essence will be felt by the viewing audience.”
Larivey’s new collection can be seen at Richard Stravitz Sculpture & Fine Art Galleries in Virginia Beach, Virginia.