RICHARD BOLINGBROKE
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Watercolors 2003-2014

A selection of watercolors from my 2014 show at Paul Mahder gallery "Riddles, Visions and Mysteries" as well as work from the previous ten years.

Riddles, Mysteries and Visions. An artists search for meaning in life.

We live in a world where every question can be answered by the click of a mouse, where we can visit ancient monuments from the comfort of our armchair, a world where the mysterious has almost vanished from sight. Religion has been fatally corrupted by power and decadence, knowledge has replaced wisdom, and information has become a product in itself. In this world more is better, excess is stylish, and “reality” is more likely to refer to a television program than a personal experience, a world where the ephemeral is glorified over the substantial. In short, it is a world where meaning is hard to find.

And so I have asked myself “where do I find meaning in my life and in my art?”. Looking back at my work working with skulls and thorns in Rituals and Meditations and earlier where I was using fabrics and flowers, I could see myself searching for meaning. This earlier work was characterized by an intensity and vitality expressed most especially through color and pattern, and while I see now that this very vitality was an expression of meaning in itself, at the time this did not feel enough.

While taking a year’s break from painting, I worked on a series of collages that transformed my understanding of the picture plane, and opened my eyes to new possibilities. Originally inspired by the Fukushima tsunami, this work washed my own creative world clean and liberated me to start afresh. Music, and especially rhythm, was expressed in color and form. Certain obsessions and underlying themes crystalized into symbols and shapes, and the central place I had reserved for representation dissolved. This transformation of my creative process was aided by my work creating a series of abstract monoprints, Meditations on the Square. Stylistically the work I present here is a synthesis of the collage work and my earlier watercolors.

Here I attempt to express discoveries I have made on this journey. Here are carnal ceremonies, and fierce, rhythmic visions, journeys into silence with glimpses of clarity, expressed with grace and veneration. This is my truth. Life IS mysterious, it is full of riddles, and sometimes it is illuminated by visions. In these paintings I offer not the clarity of answers, but mysterious adventures on the stormy seas of the unknown and the unknowable, stories that are both ancient and modern, personal and universal, siren songs to lure you into experiencing life in all its beauty and power.

Watercolors 2003-2014 (1/40)

Sacrifice

Watercolor on paper60 x 30 inches2013Catalog ID: 201313Download ⇩
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Watercolors 2003-2014 (2/40)

Juju Music

Watercolor on paper41 x 29.5 inches2013Catalog ID: 201309Download ⇩
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Watercolors 2003-2014 (3/40)

Leaving Paradise

Watercolor on paper41 x 29.5 inches2013Catalog ID: 201319Download ⇩
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Watercolors 2003-2014 (4/40)

Rhythm And Blues

Watercolor on paper41 x 29.5 inches2013Catalog ID: 201310Download ⇩
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Watercolors 2003-2014 (5/40)

Moon Dance

Watercolor on paper41 x 29.5 inches2013Catalog ID: 201314Download ⇩
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Watercolors 2003-2014 (6/40)

Fire And Light

Watercolor on paper60 x 40 inches2014Catalog ID: 201401Download ⇩
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Watercolors 2003-2014 (7/40)

Magnolias For Matisse

Watercolor on paper60 x 40 inches2013Catalog ID: 201311Download ⇩
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Watercolors 2003-2014 (8/40)

Wild Cat

Watercolor on paper20 x 20 inches2013Catalog ID: 201318Download ⇩
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Watercolors 2003-2014 (9/40)

Sun Dance

Watercolor on paper44 x 37 inches2013Catalog ID: 201317Download ⇩
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Watercolors 2003-2014 (10/40)

The Light And The Dark

Watercolor on paper41 x 29.5 inches2013Catalog ID: 201301Download ⇩
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Watercolors 2003-2014 (11/40)

Pink Chair

Watercolor on paper44 x 35 inches2013Catalog ID: 201316Download ⇩
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Watercolors 2003-2014 (12/40)

Brown Chair

Watercolor on paper44 x 35 inches2014Catalog ID: 201411Download ⇩
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Watercolors 2003-2014 (13/40)

Vanishing Trick

Watercolor on paper29.5 x 29.5 inches2007Catalog ID: 200731Download ⇩
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Watercolors 2003-2014 (14/40)

Life On The Edge

Watercolor on paper29.5 x 29.5 inches2008Catalog ID: 200842Download ⇩
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Watercolors 2003-2014 (15/40)

This Strange Beautiful World

Watercolor on paper40 x 20 inches2014Catalog ID: 201408Download ⇩
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Watercolors 2003-2014 (16/40)

Escape From The Machine

Watercolor on paper30 x 22 inches2013Catalog ID: 201305Download ⇩
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Watercolors 2003-2014 (17/40)

Tools For Creating An Illusion

Watercolor on paper18 x 18 inches2008Catalog ID: 200845Download ⇩
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Watercolors 2003-2014 (18/40)

A Studio Meditation

Watercolor on paper19 x 19 inches2008Catalog ID: 200844Download ⇩
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Watercolors 2003-2014 (19/40)

Patterns Of Life

Watercolor on paper26 x 26 inches2014Catalog ID: 201415Download ⇩
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Watercolors 2003-2014 (20/40)

Impossible Ladder

Watercolor on paper40 x 25 inches2013Catalog ID: 201315Download ⇩
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Watercolors 2003-2014 (21/40)

Erics Hibiscus

Watercolor on paper40 x 26 inches2014Catalog ID: 201407Download ⇩
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Watercolors 2003-2014 (22/40)

Memories Of My Childhood Garden

Watercolor on paper40 x 20 inches2014Catalog ID: 201412Download ⇩
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Watercolors 2003-2014 (23/40)

Rainbow Callas

Watercolor on paper40 x 26 inches2014Catalog ID: 201405Download ⇩
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Watercolors 2003-2014 (24/40)

Good Enough To Eat

Watercolor on paper40 x 26 inches2014Catalog ID: 201406Download ⇩
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Watercolors 2003-2014 (25/40)

Roses For Gertrude

Watercolor on paper40 x 26 inches2014Catalog ID: 201413Download ⇩
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Watercolors 2003-2014 (26/40)

Native Beauty

Watercolor on paper44 x 44 inches2014Catalog ID: 201414Download ⇩
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Watercolors 2003-2014 (27/40)

Orchids On Black

Watercolor on paper30 x 22 inches2003Catalog ID: 200316Download ⇩
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Watercolors 2003-2014 (28/40)

Limes In An Orange Bowl

Watercolor on paper40 x 26 inches2014Catalog ID: 201410Download ⇩
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Watercolors 2003-2014 (29/40)

Labyrinth Of Life #1

Watercolor on paper29.5 x 29.5 inches2014Catalog ID: 201409Download ⇩
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Watercolors 2003-2014 (30/40)

State Of The World

Watercolor on paper29.5 x 29.5 inches2008Catalog ID: 200847Download ⇩
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Watercolors 2003-2014 (31/40)

Iris In A Black Bowl

Watercolor on paper49 x 37 Framed inches2003Catalog ID: 200318Download ⇩
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Watercolors 2003-2014 (32/40)

My Orchid Collection #3

Watercolor on paper60 x 40 inches2004Catalog ID: 200414Download ⇩
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Watercolors 2003-2014 (33/40)

Sunflowers For My Mother

Watercolor on paper41 x 29 inches2003Catalog ID: 200323Download ⇩
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Watercolors 2003-2014 (34/40)

All Things Pass Away

Watercolor on paper19.75 x 19.75 inches2012Catalog ID: 201223Download ⇩
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Watercolors 2003-2014 (35/40)

Studio Still Life #15

Watercolor on paper37 x 58 framed inches2003Catalog ID: 200331Download ⇩
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Watercolors 2003-2014 (36/40)

Studio Still Life # 20

Watercolor on paper49 x 37 Framed inches2004Catalog ID: 200407Download ⇩
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Watercolors 2003-2014 (37/40)

Three Lemons

Watercolor on paper40 x 40 framed inches2006Catalog ID: 200657Download ⇩
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Watercolors 2003-2014 (38/40)

Three Mangoes

Watercolor on paper29.5 x 29.5 inches2007Catalog ID: 200702Download ⇩
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Watercolors 2003-2014 (39/40)

Three Pears

Watercolor on paper29.5 x 29.5 inches2006Catalog ID: 200658Download ⇩
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Watercolors 2003-2014 (40/40)

Three Red Peppers

Watercolor on paper29.5 x 29.5 inches2007Catalog ID: 200734Download ⇩
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Prev
Next
View All
Slides

Sacrifice

Juju Music

Leaving Paradise

Rhythm And Blues

Moon Dance

Fire And Light

Magnolias For Matisse

Wild Cat

Sun Dance

The Light And The Dark

Pink Chair

Brown Chair

Vanishing Trick

Life On The Edge

This Strange Beautiful World

Escape From The Machine

Tools For Creating An Illusion

A Studio Meditation

Patterns Of Life

Impossible Ladder

Erics Hibiscus

Memories Of My Childhood Garden

Rainbow Callas

Good Enough To Eat

Roses For Gertrude

Native Beauty

Orchids On Black

Limes In An Orange Bowl

Labyrinth Of Life #1

State Of The World

Iris In A Black Bowl

My Orchid Collection #3

Sunflowers For My Mother

All Things Pass Away

Studio Still Life #15

Studio Still Life # 20

Three Lemons

Three Mangoes

Three Pears

Three Red Peppers

Prev
Next
View All
Slides

Sacrifice

Watercolor on paper60 x 30 inches2013Catalog ID: 201313Download ⇩

Juju Music

Watercolor on paper41 x 29.5 inches2013Catalog ID: 201309Download ⇩

Leaving Paradise

Watercolor on paper41 x 29.5 inches2013Catalog ID: 201319Download ⇩

Rhythm And Blues

Watercolor on paper41 x 29.5 inches2013Catalog ID: 201310Download ⇩

Moon Dance

Watercolor on paper41 x 29.5 inches2013Catalog ID: 201314Download ⇩

Fire And Light

Watercolor on paper60 x 40 inches2014Catalog ID: 201401Download ⇩

Magnolias For Matisse

Watercolor on paper60 x 40 inches2013Catalog ID: 201311Download ⇩

Wild Cat

Watercolor on paper20 x 20 inches2013Catalog ID: 201318Download ⇩

Sun Dance

Watercolor on paper44 x 37 inches2013Catalog ID: 201317Download ⇩

The Light And The Dark

Watercolor on paper41 x 29.5 inches2013Catalog ID: 201301Download ⇩

Pink Chair

Watercolor on paper44 x 35 inches2013Catalog ID: 201316Download ⇩

Brown Chair

Watercolor on paper44 x 35 inches2014Catalog ID: 201411Download ⇩

Vanishing Trick

Watercolor on paper29.5 x 29.5 inches2007Catalog ID: 200731Download ⇩

Life On The Edge

Watercolor on paper29.5 x 29.5 inches2008Catalog ID: 200842Download ⇩

This Strange Beautiful World

Watercolor on paper40 x 20 inches2014Catalog ID: 201408Download ⇩

Escape From The Machine

Watercolor on paper30 x 22 inches2013Catalog ID: 201305Download ⇩

Tools For Creating An Illusion

Watercolor on paper18 x 18 inches2008Catalog ID: 200845Download ⇩

A Studio Meditation

Watercolor on paper19 x 19 inches2008Catalog ID: 200844Download ⇩

Patterns Of Life

Watercolor on paper26 x 26 inches2014Catalog ID: 201415Download ⇩

Impossible Ladder

Watercolor on paper40 x 25 inches2013Catalog ID: 201315Download ⇩

Erics Hibiscus

Watercolor on paper40 x 26 inches2014Catalog ID: 201407Download ⇩

Memories Of My Childhood Garden

Watercolor on paper40 x 20 inches2014Catalog ID: 201412Download ⇩

Rainbow Callas

Watercolor on paper40 x 26 inches2014Catalog ID: 201405Download ⇩

Good Enough To Eat

Watercolor on paper40 x 26 inches2014Catalog ID: 201406Download ⇩

Roses For Gertrude

Watercolor on paper40 x 26 inches2014Catalog ID: 201413Download ⇩

Native Beauty

Watercolor on paper44 x 44 inches2014Catalog ID: 201414Download ⇩

Orchids On Black

Watercolor on paper30 x 22 inches2003Catalog ID: 200316Download ⇩

Limes In An Orange Bowl

Watercolor on paper40 x 26 inches2014Catalog ID: 201410Download ⇩

Labyrinth Of Life #1

Watercolor on paper29.5 x 29.5 inches2014Catalog ID: 201409Download ⇩

State Of The World

Watercolor on paper29.5 x 29.5 inches2008Catalog ID: 200847Download ⇩

Iris In A Black Bowl

Watercolor on paper49 x 37 Framed inches2003Catalog ID: 200318Download ⇩

My Orchid Collection #3

Watercolor on paper60 x 40 inches2004Catalog ID: 200414Download ⇩

Sunflowers For My Mother

Watercolor on paper41 x 29 inches2003Catalog ID: 200323Download ⇩

All Things Pass Away

Watercolor on paper19.75 x 19.75 inches2012Catalog ID: 201223Download ⇩

Studio Still Life #15

Watercolor on paper37 x 58 framed inches2003Catalog ID: 200331Download ⇩

Studio Still Life # 20

Watercolor on paper49 x 37 Framed inches2004Catalog ID: 200407Download ⇩

Three Lemons

Watercolor on paper40 x 40 framed inches2006Catalog ID: 200657Download ⇩

Three Mangoes

Watercolor on paper29.5 x 29.5 inches2007Catalog ID: 200702Download ⇩

Three Pears

Watercolor on paper29.5 x 29.5 inches2006Catalog ID: 200658Download ⇩

Three Red Peppers

Watercolor on paper29.5 x 29.5 inches2007Catalog ID: 200734Download ⇩
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