”Paper Boxes & Bits Of String“
24 X 30 Oil
Although Nauvoo will forever hold
an element of tragedy in its history, times in Nauvoo weren’t always difficult. In
Paper Boxes and Bits of String David depicts life in Nauvoo as pleasant and prosperous,
a place where everyday life passed much like it did elsewhere. For children, out
of school time meant time for diversions with mostly make-do games and toys. For
young boys the games could be rough and tumble, but for young girls the diversions
would be more calm and proper.
David used his own daughters, Hannah
and Megan, as the perfect models for this composition.
Through the magic of digital photography and computer composition he selected a side
view of the beautifully restored Heber C. Kimball home as his backdrop and placed
his daughters in a thoughtful pose on a shady swing beneath a large tree. One of
the later paintings in the series, Paper Boxes and Bits of String is a beautiful
example of David’s soft brushwork in a more colorful pallet. David’s skillful handling
of his medium allows the viewer to take interest in the structures in the background
without having them compete with the figures in the foreground. The scenery thus
becomes integral to the overall painting without distracting.
Private collection.