[Mike McCarty]

Below is a painting by Jerry Weiss, 40x30 "Man with a cane" o/c, a current SOG member.

Ever since I first laid eyes on this painting a few years ago I have been coming back to it over and over.

I should state up front I am not trying to correct anything here, I think it is great just as the artist created it, I'm just trying to get to the reasons why the composition affects me the way that it does. If I can understand it more fully maybe I can unlock some door.

This design creates some kind of tension in my mind. Maybe tension is not the best word, maybe a sense of wonderment would be better. But, I can't successfully articulate to myself the reasons why. Maybe it is because I am unable to instantly resolve all the facts that I continue to be fascinated. Maybe this is part of the key to it's success in my mind, the ability to withhold some parts of the formula such that my mind wants to continue to solve the mystery.

As I study it I ask myself -- is it the close relationships to the edge of the canvas? I then try and imagine the painting with more space on all sides and all issues at the bottom fully resolved. As I contemplate that imagined image I think that it would change things somewhat (probably significantly). But I still don't think that it resolves all my questions.

Maybe it's the seemingly precarious nature of his seating.

Maybe it's because he keeps staring at me.

I then begin to settle on the pose that the man has struck. At first it seems awkward, but maybe not for him. He may feel completely at ease. Maybe it's that I would feel awkward if I were in this pose. I just don't know. Maybe it's the way that arm jets out and is propped up by the cane. Very graphic, and undoubtedly adds much to the vision. But I'm not sure. I'm pretty sure it's not the astonishing use of color. It may be in the contrasts, or with his choice of a minimal background.

Maybe it's magic, for me, is that I just can't figure it all out. The fact that I can't completely come to grips with the reasons for why I like it keeps me looking on. I wonder how I would relate to this painting if I were'nt "in the business," so preoccupied with details. I wonder if I would enjoy it more or less.

I can, however, figure this out -- It's not the execution, it's the design that creates my wonderment. It's the decisions that were made before any paint was laid to canvas that cinched it's fate.