the stars in the sky are so far away...the flowers are under my nose.  paintings are flat.  the only real conceivable third dimension in painting is the actual paint laid on the canvas.  paintings are two dimensional and must be treated thus;  to fool the eye with colorful images should be reflected in the matter of subject portrayed by the colorful images.  that is, form and content must be married under a singular idea: outlined shadows projected onto a flat surface will convey form in two dimensions.  simple drawn forms create iconic images which reflect the ability of humans to create forms of written communication.  light is necessary for visual experience, and painting is purely a visual experience.

[above left:  stars and daisies, oil and encaustic on canvas (3 x 4 )  above right:  white f, ink on paper (3 x 5)]