Melody of the Rain 2011

Michael Cheval, born in 1966, painted this surreal scene, probably in oil. I can almost smell the paint! The woman's face is pale, like porcelain, and then there's that wild headdress, a cascade of pearls and fabric. What a strange, beautiful sight! It feels like a dream, doesn't it? The artist’s hand hovers over a vintage gramophone, ready to set the music in motion; the small umbrellas floating in the sky feel like the opening bars of a familiar tune. I know that feeling when you can hear the painting as much as you can see it! The colour is intense, the way the waves reflect the sky. You can tell that the artist loves to be immersed in the world, just like you or I. We are all in conversation with each other, with the world, with artists who inspire us.