Creating a World on Canvas
by Taylor Collins • photos by Nia Martin
If you have ever seen the film What Dreams May Come starring the legendary Robin Williams, then you’ll know the scene in which Williams’ character is rolling around with his dog in a field of paint. It’s a moment of awe in experiencing the color and beauty surrounding him.
Standing in Cormac McCarthy’s Whidbey Island art gallery is akin to finding yourself in that field of paint—immersed in a world of vibrant color and moods, city and natural landscapes, all while in the presence of an amiable Irishman.
McCarthy paints scenes which transport us to majestic underwater worlds filled with seals, take us on autumnal evening walks down lit lanes, and lead us to fields of flowers in which we can experience for just a moment the expansiveness and beauty of our planet. McCarthy is a painter who creates moments—moments that inspire joy,
