Amenity

A tranquil vibe dominates McNulty’s work of art, Amenity, evoking a feeling of a peaceful time. An image of the sea breaks through visible brushstrokes and muted sandy, aqua, and cloudy colored pastels. With little movement, minute shades blending into themselves, the scene transforms into stilled waters suspended under dense, quiet clouds. Undertones of age show through the calmly presented pumice canvas, hinting towards the lapses of time. McNulty’s use of acrylics and rudimentary shapes allow him to disguise the simple setting and create an extraordinary image, filled with hidden meaning. Patches of broken hues suggest an utterly ancient world, one that has been lost at sea for quite some time. Such an aged impression displays the everlasting affect and truth of serenity. Only with time, portrayed through the rusted splashes of bronze, scattered throughout the soft gloom, is an ample maturity conceivable and able to convey this meaning of serenity. For serenity can only lead to content when a mature eye and mindset absorb its beautiful simplicity. A humble happiness is seen in the soft color palate of Amenity, relating the emotions that the sea awakens with the mood of the work. At first glance, the image induces a somber effect; however, with a prolonged viewing of the coloring and distribution of space, we uncover its true meaning, with a courteous calm, wiping away worry and dejection, it leads us into a floating ease. Here, McNulty perfectly embodies the truth of serenity, where time and age cannot change its meaning or powerful presence. For serenity, just as the sea’s simplicity, is forever.