The Weary Shepherd 11″ x 14″ (28cm x 36cm) Acrylic on Panel, 2011
The Rat King 12″ x 16″ (30cm x 41cm) Acrylic on Panel, 2011 (A “rat king” is a semi-mythical phenomenon, in which rats crowded together in the same living space become knotted together by their tails.)
New Gods 8″ x 16″ (20cm x 41cm) Acrylic on Slate, 2011 (It is painted on a slate roofing tile, and hangs on two nails when displayed on the wall.)
Pearls of Wisdom 6″ x 8″ (15cm x 20cm) Acrylic on Panel, 2011
Sun Goddess 8″ x 10″ (20cm x 25cm) Acrylic on Panel, 2011
The Protector 5″ x 7″ (13cm x 18cm) Acrylic on Panel, 2011
Small Heroes
2011, La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles
Small Heroes was the my final series in my early career of pop surrealism-influenced narrative painting. The works harness the pageantry of anthropomorphic heroes and martyrs to tell, in an accessible way, the story of individuals grappling with forces larger than themselves.
Small run limited edition prints may be made available in the future depending on interest. Please email requests to info@heatherwatts.com.
Artist Statement
If I could choose a metaphor for the idea behind this show, it would be that each of us carries a lantern, a source of light, within us. Some of these lanterns are bright. Some are very dull. But when there is light in the world around us these lanterns are indistinguishable; invisible.
It is only when we are thrown into darkness that most of us realize how all-important these lanterns are–or that they even exist. And it is when we are surrounded by the most terrifying, empty blackness and bleakness that our lanterns shine the brightest. For such is the nature of light.
Small heroes tells the story of individuals grappling with forces larger than themselves and discovering, in the looming shadows of these forces, the light which a single lantern can cast upon the world.