I began this painting by using hematite pigment (an iron pigment sometimes known as bloodstone) to brush out darkness on the edges of the paper, but allowed what was in the center to take its own form. At first I saw either a mountain-like shape or something seen through the folds of a black veil. Then I spent literally several hours looking at the painting in an effort to let the image arise of its own volition. It was then that I saw what wanted to rise from the brush strokes--the strange high house in the mist from the story of the same name by HP Lovecraft. Because of how strange this house was, not only in the story but in my imagination, I thought it was appropriate to show a kind of rotting or disintegration at the edges. It is of this world and not of this world, and that is most apparent at its borders, which fall apart even as we watch.

The original surreal watercolor painting is 9 x 12"/23 x 30cm on heavy cotton watercolor paper and is ready to frame behind glass or acrylic.