Narwhal and Octopus 2017

David Michael Hinnebusch made this painting "Narwhal and Octopus" with brushes and a vivid palette of reds, yellows, blues, and greens. I’m looking at it and thinking about how this painting must have come into being, shifting and emerging through trial, error, and intuition. I feel for the artist, imagining him in the heat of the moment, slinging paint, trying to reconcile these creatures with the maelstrom of his expression. The paint is applied in layers, some thin washes, some thicker impasto, creating a textured surface that invites you to touch it – though, of course, you shouldn't! See the bold strokes of blue that define the octopus tentacles? Each gesture seems to communicate a feeling, an intention, a desire to capture the essence of these fantastic creatures. There’s a conversation happening here between Hinnebusch and other painters across time; a play with form, color, and the sheer joy of making marks. It’s a beautiful reminder that painting is an embodied expression, embracing ambiguity and inviting multiple readings.