Early Harvest
Todd Crocket (1969-2008), Artist
Acrylic on canvas
2007
In Memory of PHUMC member David Daugherty (1960-2007) Given by Friends of David Daugherty
Early Harvest was commissioned and donated by friends of PHUMC member David Daughtery. The artist gave a vivid description of his work. “The dark clouds around the perimeter of the piece represents David’s depression, the green stalks refer to David and his family’s rice farming background in Stuttgart, Arkansas. The painting is from David’s perspective looking heavenward where there were rays of hope and clouds with silver linings.”
It is perhaps because Todd Crockett is from the South that his paintings, although abstract, still maintain a certain natural and organic feel. It is perhaps because he was one of five children that his colors speak so loudly. . . demanding to be heard. Whatever the reasons, Crockett’s works of art pull together just the right ingredients for dramatic and powerful statements. “I try to balance each of the elements – earth, wind, fire, and water in each painting. I love light play and depth. But I feel that it is the use of color that brings a piece to life. My abstractions evolved from a body of work called ‘Chaos’. “Chaos’ focused on the time just before the Biblical Creation. Perhaps all the pieces of the puzzle were present, just in a state of disarray or. . . chaos.” Having grown up in a family of artists, it would be difficult to say that Crockett is a self-taught artist. Although he did have some formal training while living in Austin, Texas, his style and talent seemed to develop independent of and sometimes counter to his formal training. His art is unique for sure, combining abstract with the organic, using color, light, and depth for a powerful presentation of emotion and drama. .