Lion’s Den 1990

Ken Kelly painted this action scene of clashing figures, maybe in the late twentieth century. The way Kelly built up the forms with thin layers of blended paint creates an airbrushed effect. I can imagine Kelly working on this in his studio, figuring out how to weave together all these figures in one dramatic moment. I wonder if he had models posing for him, or if he was drawing from his imagination? The whole composition is full of swirling movement, which is emphasized by the rearing of the figures. Look at the arm that wields the spiked mace—it's painted with such intensity, the figure’s muscles bulging with effort! Kelly's a part of a long tradition of illustrators and painters who depict the drama of heroism and conflict. I find myself thinking about how artists learn from one another, riffing on the ideas of the past while bringing their own take to the mix. He uses the language of the body to express something beyond words. That's what painting is all about: feeling it out, stroke by stroke.