Junk Collector 2004

Boris Vallejo made this painting, Junk Collector, with what looks like oil paint. The way he lays down the golden yellow color reminds me of working with oil pastels; smooth and soft, but with an intensity that’s hard to ignore. The texture in this piece is really interesting. See how Vallejo builds up the surface around the figures with soft, blended brushstrokes? It gives everything a dreamy, almost surreal quality. But then he adds these sharply defined details, like the skulls on top of the structure, or the blade in the woman’s hand, bringing us back to something starkly real. I’m drawn to how he contrasts the softness with the hard edges, creating a kind of tension that keeps the eye moving across the canvas. This piece reminds me a little of Frank Frazetta; both artists have this knack for rendering otherworldly subjects. Ultimately, though, art invites us to bring our own perspectives and understandings. There are many ways to look at this work!