Cross Purposes

Title: Cross Purposes

Copyright: © 2018 Dan Sullivan

Medium: Acrylic painting on canvas.

Materials: Professional quality acrylic colours on linen canvas, bound to an MDF (medium density fibreboard) support.

Protected with two coats of acrylic varnish, plus isolation coat. Framed in a shiny silver, solid aluminium moulding.

Canvas Size: 72.5 cm x 57 cm (28.5” x 22.5”).

Size including Frame: 77.5 cm x 62 cm (30.5” x 24.5”). All sizes approximate.

Signature: Hand signed by the artist, both front (monogram) and back (full signature), with year of completion.

Certificate of Authenticity: A signed certificate of authenticity is supplied with this painting.

It's a wonderful game, Scrabble.

Played at so many levels by such different people – old and young, experts and amateurs, professors of English and those who can hardly spell, deadly rivals and the closest of friends. Lovers even, or possibly would-be lovers.

I chose this subject before realising I would have to show a credible arrangement of words on the board – or if not credible then at least compliant with the rules and possibilities of the game. You may think I got a bit carried away, but I thought it would be fun to use words that repeatedly clash in mood, suggestion, aspiration, or mindset. Words revealing the players’ innermost thoughts perhaps, betraying priorities, longings, emotions?

Yes I know that no real game of Scrabble ever lends itself to such contrivance, thought association and convenient word links. But I’m sure it can set the mood for an evening of wine and wondering…