Winter Love

Description

“A child carrying or pulling a big heart is a theme I have explored many times before. This search for love, our need for it and the power of it, is apparent in lots of my work, not just the more symbolically obvious images.” – Mackenzie Thorpe

In this original pastel on paper, Mackenzie Thorpe shows a single child, drawn in his signature style, pulling a huge red heart through a wintery forest. The child does not have much, she isn’t even wearing a coat, but she has his love and hope to get her through the tough journey. She floats along as if she is dancing through the forest, seemingly unbothered by the cold. Although the heart is more than two times her size, she pulls it with ease as she is eager to bring love with her on the journey.

In Thorpe’s signature style, the child has a big head, an ear to ear smile, and sturdy shoes. He wants to remind the audience to keep their heads as big as possible and to continue to pursue their dreams. The fear that we have is all between our ears; it’s not real. Instead of passing it on, we need to keep our dreams big and share the joy of the new and unknown. The big, sturdy shoes are a reminder to keep us grounded and to never let our egos take control.

The vibrant red of the heart and the green of the child’s dress contrasts sharply with the muted tones of the winter landscape. The trees are barren and dark, without any foliage to protect the child from the snowstorm. The background is a pure grey and the snowflakes are coming down in huge flakes. At first glance, this image feels somber and quiet as the child is alone in a cold forest. It is actually a representation of hope and a reminder to bring love with us on our journey, no matter where it takes us. Even on the darkest days, when we feel most alone, we can still find love and bring joy to everyone that we meet. To appreciate the light in the world, we must also have an understanding of the darkness. Thorpe firmly believes that we must go through the hardships to be able to appreciate the joys in life.

This Mackenzie Thorpe artwork is available for sale at the Marcus Ashley Gallery in Lake Tahoe, along with artworks by 40+ of the most famous artists of our time. With a hundred years of combined experience in the art world, the owners, staff, custom framers, and art consultants at Marcus Ashley Gallery all work hard to make their clients’ dreams come true.