Crystal Blue Persuasion

This series began with a one-off oil painting - Die Sonne Scheint mir aus den Augen - featuring a human skull sitting in a sunny field. The juxtaposition between a traditionally dark and macabre subject and the bright, summery feel of the piece fueled an exploration into surrealism.

The paintings in this series explore a number of emotions and philosophical issues, stylistically linked by employing a feeling of open, airy spaces. Currently, the series is far from complete and a number of paintings are still in-progress.

Maybe - Ray Perigo - Oils

Oils on canvas - 16" x 20" - 2017

Maybe

Waiting on the sun.

Immer - Ray Perigo - Oils

Oils on canvas - 24" x 36" - 2016

Immer

Die Sonne Scheint mir aus den Augen didn't quite come out in the way I'd wanted. Just something not-quite-right about it. So I did it again. This is a new thing for me - and likely one that won't occur often, as I'm generally of the mind that once a piece is finished, that's the end of it.

In some cases, however, I'm willing to make exceptions.

Ruhe - Ray Perigo - Oils

Oils on canvas - 4' x 3' - 2016

Ruhe

A large experiment - the overall goal of which was to create a piece which was muted, zen-like, and calming. A reaction to a decreasingly calm existence.

Watch Your Step, Kid - Ray Perigo - Oils

Oils on canvas - 40" x 24" - 2016

Watch Your Step, Kid

Or - So, I Guess This Is Growing Up?

A simple essay on being a twenty-something confronted with the fact that life is very suddenly not as simple and carefree as it once was.

Sort of a companion piece to both Die Sonne Scheint mir aus den Augen (stylistically speaking), and Landlocked (in that it touches on the same desire to go back to simpler times.

The Infinite Delusion - Ray Perigo - Oils

Oils on canvas - 22" x 28" - 2016

The Infinite Delusion

Stylistically inspired by Renee Magritte, the painting is a question more than anything else - why must people put up obstacles where none need exist?

Humanity has a long and storied history of halting its own progress for no reason other than tradition, dogma, or fear. I merely found myself wondering why.

Landlocked - Ray Perigo - Oils on canvas

Oils on canvas - 22" x 28" - 2015

Landlocked

The painting explores lost youth, and the nature of time. The desire to go back to a simpler time can be a strong one, be it one's own youth or the idealized past exuded by the phrase "I remember when...".

But you can't go back, not ever.