Description

“The big feet symbolize that I never want to forget where I came from, no matter how different my life has become. It can be dangerous to forget your roots. Your ego takes over, and you’ve got wings on your feet. It’s important never to become bigger than your shoes.” – Mackenzie Thorpe

In this limited edition print for sale, Mackenzie Thorpe shows two figures holding their fishing rods as they balance on the branch of a crooked tree. Presumably, the figures are a father and son, modeled after the artist himself. The boy wears a dark duffle coat, common in Thorpe’s artwork, and his father wears a dark hat and suit. They are set against a plain, white background, suggesting that they could be anywhere in the world. The only pops of color in this piece are two red fish that are floating in the space below the figures. One fish is larger than the other, echoing the parent and child figures above.

The background and the figures’ faces are intentionally left blank, as Thorpe wants the viewer to use their imagination. They are meant to represent anyone, regardless of race, gender, or upbringing. They are drawn with big feet, a reminder for Thorpe of his humble roots. He firmly believes that your ego should never be bigger than your shoes.

Thorpe began working with his own father in the shipyard when he was a teenager. This artwork is meant to highlight the loving bond shared between a parent and child. It’s a special relationship that Thorpe often discusses as his own father developed Alzheimer’s and the roles eventually reversed. He realized that the bond was always there, even if they were too busy arguing or making excuses to see it. The relationship and love between a father and son goes on beyond anything else.

Marcus Ashley gallery is one of Lake Tahoe’s premier fine art galleries. With a hundred years of combined experience in the art world, the owners, staff, custom framers, and art consultants all work hard to make their clients’ dreams come true. In addition to numerous Mackenzie Thorpe artworks for sale, Macus Ashley exhibits 40+ of the most renowned artists of our time.