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MICRONAUT

Originally uploaded by rsconnett

"The Micronaut"

This painting illustrates my continued interest in the "Underworlds" where tiny universes exist beyond our senses, and my fascination with a possible future where man utilizes technology to evolve beyond our current state. This piece brings those two ideas together for me.

I envision a future where mankind has reinvented itself through 'self evolution'. Some day you will be able to 'be' anything we can imagine. Not only will we live indefinitely, we will be able to take any form we wish, and live a multitude of lives limited only by our imaginations.

This may not be so far out! When we hit the "Technological singularity", (an "intelligence explosion", suggesting that if machines could even slightly surpass human intellect, they could improve their own designs in ways unforeseen by their designers, and thus recursively augment themselves into far greater intelligences. The first such improvements might be small, but as the machine became more intelligent it would become better at becoming more intelligent, which could lead to a cascade of self-improvements and a sudden surge to superintelligence (or a singularity).) we will, by using the machines yet to be invented, be able to speed up, and control the path of human evolution. We will develop into a new 'post human' form.

This painting is one of many visions I have of the future. A blind boy* has invented a "bio-vehicle" (a living machine) to take him through a microbic universe.

*(Yes!, of course he could cure his own blindness … He's probably just got his eyeballs in the shop for the latest upgrade!)

Memento Mori

Originally uploaded by rsconnett

Memento Mori, (Remember you will die)

One of the "UNDERWORLD" paintings I've been creating in the past few months. This one is changing however. As you can see, human faces are beginning to show up. In this case, they are the dead floating in the still waters before the symbol of death, the skull. The skull is being overgrown with reeds showing the passing of time.

MANTIS POND

Originally uploaded by rsconnett

MANTIS POND - 12" X 24" Acrylic on canvas 9/2009

This is another 'interim' painting, (I will not call it a study) moving towards a larger piece 'UNDERWORLD IV'. This is character development. The cobra lilies are becoming more cobra-like. The caterpillars are evolving. The mantis is a new character, as is the black widow spider. There are many black widows were I live. They amaze me.

I'll probably move into the larger piece now. I've used this same palette and same basic theme in my last 3 or 4 paintings. I plan to continue specializing like this, continue to explore where this world will take me, until I have exhausted the potential of this world. That might very well be never.

If only I could live forever.

UNDERWORLD 5 ~ COBRA LILIES

Originally uploaded by rsconnett

COBRA LILIES ~ 10" X 20" ~ Acrylic on canvas ~ 2009

Study #2 for the painting, 'UNDERWORLD 5'

This is (what I call) a study for the larger painting I'm planning. Before I begin painting the larger piece, I want to make sure I'm happy with the characters and other aspects of the painting, water, sky, plant colors, etc ... I think this one holds it's own. I dig the cobras and the guy walking through the swamp. He was an unexpected visitor into my world. I'm not sure if he will be in the big painting or not.

CHRIST SUFFERING FOOLS

Originally uploaded by rsconnett

"JESUS CHRIST PORTRAIT #7"

IMAGE SIZE: 11" x 14"

This is the 7th Christ portrait I've done in 24 months. I'm an 'Animist' myself, which is one step up, (or is it down?) from an atheist. I believe in everything and nothing simultaneously. Seems conflicted, yet somehow it works for me. In spite of this, I've always been interested in the image of Christ.

As a child brought up in a neighborhood of Irish Catholics, I was the only mutt from a family of unknown origin, and atheistic leanings. The icons at the neighborhood church, only a few doors away, of the bloody Christ figure in anguish, was one of the earliest images burned into my childhood memory. Of course, I was constantly told by my young peers that I was destined for hell, having no baptism.

Keep the faith baby!

UNDERWORLD 5, Curiosity

Originally uploaded by rsconnett

"UNDERWORLD V" (Curiosity) Paint study 12" x 12" Acrylic on paper

This is a painted study for the fifth in my series I call "UNDERWORLD"

I plan to re-paint this in a larger, more polished and evolved version.

I am calling this "CURIOSITY" because the living things in the picture seem curious about the inanimate objects; The skull, the crack pipe, and the tablet.

Flora vs. Fauna, UNDERWORLD IV

Originally uploaded by rsconnett

FLORA vs FAUNA, (UNDERWORLD IV)

18" X 18" Acrylic on wood panel

This is number 4 in my series I call "UNDERWORLD(s)" My vision of the life that thrives in gigantic, yet tiny worlds which surround us, but is also hidden from us.

This one illustrates the occasional dominion of plants over animals, hence the title; "FLORA vs FAUNA"

The scrotal looking plants in the painting are California Pitcher plants, also known as "COBRA LILIES". These clever plant adaptations entice their insect pray into a narrow mouth, heading toward a digestive "pot" with inward pointing hairs, preventing the insect from reversing out, sort of like a lobster trap.

The big red "flower" is modeled after an Anthurium. However the stamen of this particular Anthurium is patterned after a "Sticky Trap" carnivorous plant, (the Drosera Capensis). But of course, Anthuriums don't have tendrillic appendages which capture hornets either. (But wouldn't it be wonderful if they did!)

RED GARDEN

Originally uploaded by rsconnett

Red Garden (aka; "The things in my red garden)

8" x 10" Acrylic on masonite

This is #3 in my "UNDERWORLDS" series of paintings

UNDERWORLD II ~ Zoooids

Originally uploaded by rsconnett

(UNDERWORLD II) ~ ZOOOIDS (ZOO-OYDS)

My second painting in the series "UNDERWORLD" , these are the 'ZOOOIDS' or 'ZOOIDS', (** see definitions below) Self-replicating organisms through means other than sex.

My creatures are based on living things called "Siphonophora". The illustrations I discovered are from the bio-drawings of Ernst Haeckel, (from the book; "ART FORMS IN NATURE") (Ernst Haeckel: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernst_Haeckel) Sometimes I meander through this lovely book to get jolts of inspiration. (and also to enjoy, always that!)

I'm also currently working on #3 in the 'Underworld' series which I plan to title "FAUNA vs FLORA", or vise-versa.

Definitions of "ZOOIDS"

1. any organic body or cell capable of spontaneous movement and of an existence more or less apart from or independent of the parent organism.

2. any animal organism or individual capable of separate existence, and produced by fission, gemmation, or some method other than direct sexual reproduction.

3. any one of the recognizably distinct individuals or elements of a compound or colonial animallike organism, whether or not detached or detachable.

Underworld I

Originally uploaded by rsconnett

Acrylic on canvas - 24" x 24"

UNDERWORLD I is my first in a series of "UNDERWORLD" paintings. This is an evolution of my "CRUSTACEAPODS" and my "MICROBIA" paintings. This one is about 'insects', in case you did not notice that ;)