Thumbprint Gallery | Contemporary Art Gallery - San Diego
  • EXHIBITIONS
    • UPCOMING
    • PAST
  • NEWS
  • PRESS
  • INFO

"Master of My Own Ship" by Paul Brogden

2/27/2013

 
Picture
Written by Michael Ashman

Commanding the paintbrush is like commanding a ship, artists are in control of the direction of their art. For solo artists, it can feel harder to do everything by themselves without the help of their friends. Painting is artist Paul Brogden’s life. But, when a car accident left him without the use of his fingers and his hands, Paul had to overcome his disability to become a master of a new art style. “Master of My Own Ship” is a new work by Paul currently on display at Thumbprint Gallery’s exhibition titled “Solus Voices.” The painting demonstrates the feeling of having to manage everything by yourself. With his simple stylized approach to painting, he paints a scene easy enough to understand, but the Viking caricature’s expression does not match his plight.

The iron-horned helmeted and grey bearded Viking in this painting is finding it harder to concentrate while at sea. Although his ship is fine and floating, he is wounded by an unknown enemy’s attack. Three feather-tipped arrows stick from his back, but they do not cause him to shed blood. He seems to be more concerned with his compass than his attackers. His droopy eyes concentrate on the arrow of the compass with an expression of sincere effort. His boat is heading the right way as the dragon head of the ship is pointing in the direction of the compass.

Paul’s little Viking character is an oddly shaped fellow like some of his other figures at the show. The odd thing about his rounded body is that it is uninterrupted by any arms or legs. In another painting next to this one, “Silent Sam,” Paul paints the same rounded face and body and almost looks like a humanized finger puppet. He is known to paint worn out or sad faces that are almost cute in their seeming hopeless state and his characters tend to end up in ironic twists of fate. This kind of twisted tale is told by the Viking’s willingness to venture onwards despite being grievously wounded. Even in this perilous journey, the Viking does not even express feeling even the slightest amount pain.

This piece and a variety of other works by Brogden are currently on display at Thumbprint Gallery which is located at 920 Kline St. New artworks by Brian Dombrowsky and Pamela Jaeger are also on display in the gallery. The “Solus Voices” show runs until March 3 and the gallery is open Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 12pm to 4pm. If you do not get a chance to see the exhibition in the gallery, you will also be able to check out this piece and other Brogden works at the upcoming VIXEN fashion event on March 27 in Little Italy. 


Comments are closed.
    Picture
    Picture
    TIPS by Keemowerks
    Picture
    Time Bomb by Jordan J.

    Archives

    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    July 2019
    January 2019
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012

Thumbprint Gallery
920 Kline Street, La Jolla, CA 92037
open: Saturday, 12 - 4 pm
p: +1-858-354-6294
info(at)thumbprintgallery.com
Copyright © Thumbprint Gallery, LLC 2009-2021
  • EXHIBITIONS
    • UPCOMING
    • PAST
  • NEWS
  • PRESS
  • INFO