Something just went past in the water, and he let it go.
A pelican on the Venice Beach railing, shades on, chest out, owning the whole boardwalk. Behind him the sky is sprayed orange, turquoise, purple and hot pink, overspray drifting, paint running down in drips.
Look at his foot
One foot is tucked up under him. Balanced on a single leg, in sunglasses, doing absolutely nothing. That is the joke, and it is also the whole picture: a wild bird who has better boundaries than most of us.
Then look at the railing. NO RUSH is brushed onto the top rail itself, tipping away with it in perspective, wobbly bristle lines and all. Not a caption laid over the art. Paint on a rail, like somebody got there before the bird did.
That is Chris Vega. Fat black brush line for the character, spray for the colour behind, one phrase lettered in, then he stops. Ruby called it “both humorous and heartwarming,” which is about right.
Where he ends up
Kitchen, bar, game room. Anywhere people stand around holding a drink. They read the railing out loud. Then they spot the foot and laugh again.
Getting him up there
Canvas over solid wood, an inch and a quarter deep, and the picture wraps the sides so nothing is cut off and there is nothing else to buy. It arrives stretched and ready to hang. One nail, two minutes, no framer.
The matte weave keeps the drips looking like drips, and a window across the room gives you the pelican back instead of your own lamp. Landscape. Most people take the 20×16 (51 x 41 cm) at $149; the 14×11 is $129, and the 24×18 is $229 for a wider wall. It is a high quality print of a digital artwork, made once you order, so nobody else on your street has this bird. Free shipping in the continental US.
One honest thing
It is loud. Hot-pink loud. In a room of soft greys it will argue.
If that is the point, take him home. Still thinking? Look through the rest of Vega’s line work, or follow him and you will see the next one before anyone else does.
