“Light One for William” arrived almost all at once, which rarely happens for me.
The whole image appeared in a single flash with Rig standing beneath an oversized western sky, balancing an apple already pierced clean through with an arrow while casually lighting a cigarette like none of this is really his problem.
The painting pulls from the William Tell legend, though it wanders into ideas about temptation, instinct, and the particular confidence required to keep making bad decisions calmly.
What interested me most while painting it was Rig’s calmness. He’s completely zen, strangely at peace with the situation. The bright cartoon landscape and heavy texture keep the whole thing from taking itself too seriously.
The William Tell Overture has always reminded me of the seriousness of silliness. The Three Stooges, early cartoons, comedy where the timing is perfect, the danger is absurd, and everyone somehow survives.
Long story short, it’s a mix of symbols and Rig getting himself into trouble again. If you really want the full experience, the William Tell Overture should probably be playing on full volume.
