"The Sleeper Must Awaken"

In 2012 I started a series of portraits of friends and family as they look first thing in the morning. The idea was to portray them as they are before they present themselves to the world. Tired eyes, messy hair, no make-up, puffy, etc. I see this as one of the most personal and vulnerable moments we all face every day. It is also a moment we try desperately to hide. If you would like to see some of these pieces please visit my on-line portfolio, they're all there.
http://olinroth.carbonmade.com/

When I began this portrait project another life was created in the process. In a vicious and frustrated attempt to find a place to clean a terrible color from my brush late one night, I took my anger out on a near by blank canvas. In that moment the painting you see here was born. Very early into the portrait series I decided to keep up work on this abstraction until the time the series was finished. I have never worked on a painting longer then I have on this abstraction (about one full year).

This painting is the culmination of many different moments and thoughts. It is one year of focus, frustration and and left-over paint. Consequently I don't think I'll ever be able to give it a proper title. I'm having trouble organizing my thoughts and feelings about this painting. I know I love it and am very happy with it.