Verbal Description: emery lambus, 2016

Narrator: emery lambus (2016) is an acrylic painting on canvas. Measuring almost 72 inches tall by nearly 60 inches wide, this life-sized portrait’s title is the name of the painting’s subject. Lambus, self taught painter, sculptor, and shock artist residing in Los Angeles is not only a friend of Taylor’s but is the subject of many of his paintings. 

Against an almost uniform pale peach background, a configuration of Emery Lambus and a suggestion of a figure behind him perch centrally. The unknown figure’s features blur though small details emerge: parted lips; a side view of the head; an outstretched hand with palm facing up and out as if praying; a single bent leg and flexing foot. For the most part, this figure comprises one rich tawny hue. Lambus hovers in front of this figure. Head at ¾ view, blue and blue-grey hues combine to fluffs of hair, a partial mustache, and beard. Rich dark brown hues make up the skin. His eyes stare forward to the viewer, slightly shrouded by shadow and a play of color. The sclera of one eye is almost red while the sclera of the other eye is greyish. Both irises are dark brown, almost black, and piercing. Lambus wears a white tee shirt. From the right shoulder of Lambus’ shirt, emerges the aforestated hand. Lambus’ arms bend from the end of the sleeves and his hands, no fingers specified, cross at what would be his wrist. Near his hands, pink splashes sweep in small surges. Around where the knee meets the shin, a swath of muted blue-grey dashes. On both sides of the leg, green brushstrokes follow the forms of both bodies, lying alongside the sole of the foot, the knee, and Lambus’ forearms.

Toward the bottom right corner, the pale peach background breaks into a jagged rectangle of white. Though there is minimal realization of shadows, the work appears highly layered and dimensional.