what I may have been thinking:

this painting has great meaning to me. it is based on the romantic intentions behind jay gatsby's pursuit of daisy in the "great gatsby."

prior to world war 1, jay & daisy had fallen in love. separated by the horrors of the war, daisy weds a wealthy, pretentious businessman. gatsby resurfaces with plans to rekindle their love. he buys a mansion across the river from her and would host ridiculously extravagant parties in hopes that she would attend.

he winds up reconnecting by a stroke of luck..her cousin moved next door.

the grand nature of gatsby's pursuit is what hooked me. his effort to create simply an opportunity to impress her, was borderline loco.

i include a couple of passages from the novel, plus one of my own into the artwork. the first appears before the first lines of the novel...

it is a translation of a poem by thomas parke d'inviniers: "then wear the gold hat, if that will move her. if you can bounce high, bounce for her too, till she cry, lover, gold-hatted, high bouncing lover, i must have you."

what men do for the love of a woman...

(it's less tragic, because in my painting they get the girl and live)

great gatsby less tragic, 48” x 24”,acrylic & mixed media on canvas