Nest With Flowers 1978

Stefan Caltia created this painting, "Nest With Flowers," in a dreamy world of warm yellows and earthy pinks, probably with oils. I can almost feel Caltia's hand moving, building up layers of pigment, maybe wiping some away, revealing what's underneath. The textured surface sings of a back-and-forth, a trial and error, as the nest-house emerges. It’s kinda like searching for the right word when you're writing, you know? I wonder what Caltia was thinking about as he painted this. It's a solid structure with a chimney overflowing with vegetation, and the bare tree hugs its walls - a home, yeah, but also a place of imagination, like a thought taking shape. I love the way the simple forms open a door to thinking about childhood, domesticity, memory. Caltia makes me think of other visionary painters, like Rousseau or even Guston, who tapped into something primal and heartfelt. It's the kind of painting that reminds us that artists are always talking to each other, across time, remixing ideas, inspiring each other to see the world in new ways.