Sheltering At Home

From the Artist: Through gardening, poetry and painting, I not only express my feelings but I also work through my worries and anything that troubles me. Therapy through creativity if you will. The pandemic brought up a great many emotions and I found myself very productive. Working in the garden, painting and writing poetry sustained me beyond measure.

Home has always represented comfort and safety. Under the Shelter At Home orders, while home provided protection from a formidable, unknown virus, there was also a deep sense of separation and fear. The world outside appeared scary. The familiar neighborhood emerged strange in its emptiness. The atmosphere was foreboding.

In this painting, I aimed to quickly capture that mood. The houses have their lights on and one imagines families going about the business of meals, work and conversation. Outside, the sky looms with dark clouds – uncertain weather. Devoid of signs of life, there is also a sense of loneliness or loss.