into her book , 8×19 inches, oil on board,
Books play a major role in the work of Rick Beerhorst. In this the first of a two-part post on his book work, we focus on his paintings of girls in the act of reading. His work is steeped in the folk art, pop-surrealism style with a hint of Magritte
Braided Vision
Are the girls blinded by books or so immersed in their reading that they are essentially cut off from the temporal world; literally wrapped up in their imaginations.
Hummingbird
Is the braided blindfold a restraint or a necessity? Is the hummingbird helping the young girls ‘see’ by covering their eyes and allowing their imagination to take precedence?
humming bird girl with white book
It’s clear Beerhorst understands the power and mystery of books first-hand and we’re lucky that we are able to witness his expressions of book power.