At the Spectrum Fantastic Art Live show last weekend, I had the very first showing of my new acrylic painting, The Queen Rises. I didn’t have time to put it online before I left, so here it is for you fine folks (click on it, and all of the others on the page, for a larger view):

She was an experiment in a “multilayered” idea, the idea that I could try having one painting taking over another. In this case, though it could go either way, I envision the dark, evil underpainting almost breaking away the nice, calm painting above it. Whatever kind of creature is represented in the lower painting, it’s completely destroying the sweet queen above.

But, honestly, it could easily be interpreted the other way. Perhaps this has been an evil kingdom, and good is once more covering over the evil that has ruled for so long.

It’s up to you as the viewer to decide what you think, and that’s a good thing. In my work, I try to leave open possibilities, to let the viewer decide what to think. It can be tricky, and this experiment may or may not have worked out. But in the end, it’s better to try something radical than to sit back and do nothing at all.

Below are a few close up shots of the painting, along with what it looks like in the frame. By all means, let me know what you think.


Russell Dickerson

Russell Dickerson has been a lot of things over many years. Author, artist, designer, winner of awards and recognition, pursuer of the truth, leader of the earth after armageddon.