8x6" Mixed Media on Paper
"Piercing Time" by Chile Thomas
This mixed-media work combines watercolor, ink, and collage, sharing the warm amber tones while introducing a more deliberate, almost folkloric human presence.
Central Figure
A lean, determined figure strides purposefully from right to left — an older person, gaunt-faced in profile, with quiet intensity. They wear:
A wide-brimmed green alpine or folk hat with a small pink ornament
A loose, layered grey garment — part coat, part dress — with collaged textile patches embedded in the skirt, suggesting worn history and patchwork survival
A blue star/compass brooch on the wrist — possibly a protective or navigational symbol
Heavy dark clogs or platform shoes, grounding the figure firmly to earth
Small X marks appear on both hat and garment — recurring symbols in Thomas's work
The Weapon/Tool
The figure carries a long wooden staff aimed forward, but instead of a barrel or blade, it ends embedded in a clock face — green, with visible numerals and hands. The clock is being thrust like a lance or spear, as if time itself is the weapon being wielded.
The Ground
The base of the image features a rich collaged landscape — torn paper scraps, colorful geometric fragments, printed text, and small pink and red flowers blooming amid the debris — chaotic yet alive.
Themes
This piece feels like a meditation on aging, urgency, and mortality. The figure doesn't flee time — they charge at it, piercing it with intention. The patchwork clothing suggests accumulated experience, while the flowers and collage underfoot hint that beauty and meaning persist even in fragmented, cluttered existence.