Piece of the Week: ‘Icecold’ by Henry Castelein

Artist Henry Castelein’s piece “Icecold” is a beautifully crafted moment – the color palette is gorgeously subtle, the landscape built from layers of the softest of tones with Castelein showing a gentle hand in the line work and textures. The painting reads like the concept art for an animated film that never was. A moment of solace as the day ends for our heroes.

“Icecold” has an ease to it because Castelein knows exactly what he wants it be. There’s an epic calm in this frozen sunset. It’s visual chamomile.

This is a painting that wants to be the centerpiece of a room, hung huge for all to see. It’s interesting to stop and think if this piece could work as a tee shirt. I’m sure it could, but it wouldn’t be the same. Castelein didn’t design it that way.

With the looseness of the painting style and complex textures, ‘Icecold’ does make for a pretty great design for a pillow. It’s a large canvas built of giant shapes and divisive shards of white, when wrapped around a cushion those colors and textures create a new vista but with that same sleepy feeling.

Castelein’s created something special here. Ice and snow never felt so warm. What do you think? Let us know in the comments.