Icethetics 1943

Hoyt Howard made this dreamy image, Icethetics, using printmaking techniques that allowed him to create areas of flat, opaque colour. I can almost imagine Howard in his studio, carefully layering different shapes and tones to build this scene. A lone figure on a cloud surrounded by light! The colour palette is muted and atmospheric, a combination of light blues, browns and creams. Howard captures the strange feeling of being alone on the ice, the light in your eyes, as you practice in an empty rink. I love the idea of these little rooms with people hanging out watching this solitary skater! Are they trapped? Are they there for fun? It's like the feeling of being a performer and the weird watchers watching. There's a surreal quality to Howard's work, almost like a dream. It reminds me of other artists who play with perspective, like Giorgio de Chirico. Artists are always in conversation, aren’t they?