A Fire in the Sky or the Black Cottage 2015

Alfred Freddy Krupa made this painting, A Fire in the Sky or the Black Cottage, using oil on canvas. It’s a mysterious landscape that feels as though it has emerged through layers of feeling. I can imagine Krupa starting with a dark ground, then building up the blues and greens with these scratchy marks. You know, that middle tree looks like it’s got a little triangle eye peeking out. Maybe it’s watching us? The painting reminds me of the German Expressionists, but Krupa brings his own vibe. There’s a rawness here, an immediacy that says, "I’m working this out as I go." The sky might be on fire, or maybe it’s just the sun setting. It's a mood, not a place; a dream not a postcard. And the conversation keeps going, from painter to painter, from painting to viewer.