This is my career, my past, my future, and my current yearnings. It's home and it's wilderness. All depicted in full color. Oh, and you may not be able to detect it, but that feminine leg is either kicking on - or off - a light switch.

You can move art you have off your walls, just like any exhibition space does. One day you may move and have more wall space. Or you may rearrange things again in the future. This picture's brightness, imaginitiveness, and dynamism speak loudly. I really get why you love it.

Art is such a personal thing. I have some that other people wouldn't value or even like. Since this speaks so strongly to you, you should get it as a retirement gift to yourself. Think about how much you'll enjoy looking at that on a daily basis. I would never have looked twice at it before, but since seeing it here and studying it, it seems perfect!

Ya know what? I'm getting it. It's in Montana, and I've just messaged the seller asking how to order. I do not think I'll regret this one bit.

I received a large cash gift when I retired. Perhaps there is a chance of this for you too? If so, go ahead and purchase the painting and then you can replenish your investment. As Zalco said, you can always move art around in your home. Congrats on your retirement! I hope you love it as much as I do. 💗

Thanks! I am actually being paid in lieu of unused vacation, so I will have a bit of extra $ coming my way.

And while I am retiring from the company where I've been for close to 30 years, I'm actually going to remain employed for a while longer, but elsewhere. It will be different, less structured, and I will not wear pumps every day like I do now. Hence that leg coming out of the door just makes me smile! 😄

Awesome!

I've ordered it, and I had a delightful conversation with the woman who acquired much of the artist's estate. She and I share a similar sense of how art truly speaks, and on rare occasion even sings to us. I feel so stupid, but each time I go back and look at this piece, I'm on the verge of getting weepy. Not in a bad way, just in a "holding in a lot of feelings and ready to let them out now" way!

Now I need to be thinking of how to frame this. It'll have to be custom, but probably matted and framed quite simply. White mat, black frame perhaps. Regular glass? Non-glare tends to dull colors, right?

I think the leg is turning the lights on for your after-retirement life as you enter the new door into the rest of your life.

I love the animals.

Congrats on the new artwork and your retirement.

I am so happy you ordered it! Life is too short to not buy the art that sparks joy! Congrats and blessings on your new life path!

So happy to hear you bought a perfect "retirement from corporate life" gift to self 👍

Yes I've had that happen...that's how I ended up with the sculpture I have in my foyer, or the photo I have in my bedroom, or the kinetic sculpture I have in my garden. You fall in love and you can't help it. So glad you've decided to buy it and I'm sure you'll find the perfect spot for it.

I bought a painting several years after I first saw it, after the artist had stopped exhibiting it.

I am glad you decided to purchase it. Art speaks to me all the time. I can spend hours, even days or years, daydreaming about something I've seen. If you love it you will find the space. It makes me especially happy to place art in the most unexpected places.

Excellent gift to yourself to mark this career transition!

I found one painting at a gallery in San Francisco that I felt that way about in 1979, but I could not afford the painting back then, and it was fairly large. A few months later, the gallery owner was murdered in his own gallery, and so it was closed. The gallery owner had gained notoriety for streaking at the 1974 Oscars behind David Niven.

What's the medium?

Yay, congrats! It's fabulous. Congrats on leaving your job.

We have a few pieces that were like that. One was a little pricey, and honestly, we should have bought more of his work.

Fun, it's watercolor on paper. The artist was a college professor in Kansas and director of the art school at Montana State University in his later years. He was born in the 1920s and passed away almost ten years ago. His wife too was a prolific artist, and she passed not long ago. I've always found the life stories of artists fascinating, probably because I've always longed to be one myself.

It’s amazing! So interesting. I keep studying it. :)

We just got back from the Magnolia District, big art festival. We didn’t know about it ahead of time, just happened to be going to our usual Saturday patio bar over there. Wish I’d known about it earlier, we could’ve met up! There were so many booths.

(I didn’t buy anything. Nothing jumped out at me and demanded I take it home.)

Ida, what a fantastic find!!! Have you thought about having it mounted directly on canvas, vanish coated for protection and then a simple box frame? To me the attention all needs to go to this type of painting with no other distractions.

Love your choice, I can see why it calls to you. It is a very interesting piece. Enjoy!

An alternative frame might be something like THIS LUCITE FRAME.

I’m glad you are getting this piece, Ida, and totally understand why you love it. I see a lot of symbolism there and see where you might have parallels in your own career. Congratulations on your retirement and next chapter.

I agree with Just Terrilynn, you might look at a simple box frame since this already has a lot going on.

I think it's a fun and provoking piece -- and it seems to have clicked with a moment in your life. I'm glad you are getting it, I felt a little silly about a small painting I got for bday/Christmas, but it grabbed me and I needed it. And I love it -- as I am sure you will love yours. Look forward to hearing more when you get it and frame it.

I agree with others that the work seems representative of your feelings about this time of your life. What else is art for, than to evoke an emotional response in the beholder? i am looking forward to seeing it framed and hanging in pride of place in your home!

The lucite frame is an interesting option. Not usually my style, but then again, neither is the painting. Right now I'm leaning towards a very simple wood "gallery" frame in a light to mid wood tone, not black as originally thinking. Not exactly like this, but just an idea ...

This is probably more the color I have in mind ...

I’m so intrigued by it!

The artist's wife told the woman who acquired it that the meaning behind the elements was whatever the observer determined. I can certainly see how it could be interpreted any number of ways, and maybe an interpretation could even morph over time.

What's the size of the piece unframed? I think I missed that.

I like your second choice of frame. Really, both are good.

It's 30 x 22.

Congratulations on your new art and your retirement/position change! I like the frame you showed. Looking forward to seeing it in your home.

Ida, you say it's not your style yet.....it is bold, colorful, and engaging. All of which is not unlike all your paintings you have shared with us.

Can’tbwait to see where you place it!

That seems like a nice size!