Love is the Law 2010

Adam Caldwell made this painting, Love is the Law, using oil paint, collage and mixed media, but at which point in the 20th Century is anyone's guess. The way the images are pieced together, with hard edges but soft paint handling, makes it feel like a dreamscape. The layers almost give a sense of collage. Look closely, and you'll see the texture of the paint. In areas like the blonde woman's hair, the strokes are blended, creating depth and a sense of movement. The drips beneath are allowed to stand, so some aspects are carefully rendered and others very loose. It's like Caldwell is thinking out loud, showing us how the painting comes together. Those little roses seem to be drifting upwards to another world. You might see echoes of David Salle in the way he combines different images and painting styles, but Caldwell has his own distinct voice. It's a conversation, not a copy. I'm not sure what it all means, but that’s part of the fun!