“Mystic Carnival” (1999) — an early contour painting in charcoal and oil on canvas. A kaleidoscope of overlapping lines and vibrant color, evoking a dreamlike, playful, and mysterious carnival atmosphere.
Painted in 1999, Mystic Carnival is an early example of John McCaskill’s contour-based practice. The composition unfolds as a kaleidoscope of line and form, where fluid, looping contours overlap with vibrant fields of oil color. Faces, hands, and abstracted motifs emerge and dissolve, conjuring a dreamlike carnival atmosphere that is both playful and enigmatic. The work balances spontaneity with structure, echoing the freedom of blind contour drawing while embracing rich, saturated color. As one of McCaskill’s formative works, Mystic Carnival reflects an experimental spirit and a fascination with the tension between figuration and abstraction.
- Collections: Blind Contour Paintings
