2023
Oil On Canvas
40 x 30 in
Comes with Hahnemuhle Certificate of Authenticity Serialized Hologram Protection System
 
This abstract oil painting by Joel Ray another addition to his Sacred Beauty Collection captures a tumultuous seascape or atmospheric storm, rendered in a dynamic, expressive style that evokes emotional intensity and transience—fitting for its evocative title, suggesting a painful farewell amid blistering turmoil. The composition is dominated by swirling, turbulent forms in deep blues and grays, creating a sense of chaotic motion and emotional depth. At the center, a gnarled, skeletal tree-like structure emerges from the lower right, its twisted black branches arching upward and outward like desperate, clawing limbs reaching into the void. The branches appear weathered and organic, with rough, textured strokes that mimic bark cracking under pressure, their dark silhouettes contrasting sharply against the lighter, ethereal backdrop.
Suspended amid the frenzy are three luminous, orb like forms in pale blue  that float ethereally in the upper half of the canvas. These orbs vary slightly in size and opacity: the largest, on the left, is semi-translucent with soft, glowing edges; the middle one hovers centrally, more opaque and rounded; and the smallest on the right fades into the surrounding haze. They seem to represent fleeting moments of clarity or memory, fragile and adrift in the storm, their smooth curves juxtaposed against the jagged angularity of the branches below.
The overall color palette is cool and moody, anchored in layers of ultramarine and cobalt blues that build from inky depths at the base to lighter, misty cerulean tones higher up, interspersed with subtle whites and grays for highlights. Textural brushwork adds to the visceral quality: thick, impasto ridges suggest crashing waves or wind-whipped foam at the bottom, while thinner, feathery glazes create a sense of diffusion and movement throughout. The painting with a horizontal orientation that draws the eye across the canvas in a sweeping, horizontal flow, mirroring the inexorable pull of a goodbye.
Thematically, Ray's piece masterfully blends natural abstraction with psychological undertones the encroaching branches could symbolize clinging regrets , while the drifting orbs hint at cherished artifacts or ideas released into oblivion. It's a poignant meditation on loss, executed with raw energy and masterful control of form and color.
 
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