"Robot's Dream: The Beginning"
You are looking at an original Dave Archer reverse-glass painting that we have decided to sell. This striking 1987 work is 22 inches tall by 36 inches wide within a sturdy metal frame, a large work full of vibrant color and metallic highlights. This painting is suitable for display as a centerpiece in a greatroom or in a customer lounge at an aerospace or other high-tech business. Museum quality.
This deep-space scene is painted in mixed media on glass, then Dave Archer created the nebulosity and other special effects using Tesla equipment. Amazing technique!
In reverse-glass painting, Dave Archer applies paint to the back side
of the glass, which in essence makes the glass his canvas. This is a difficult
process that yields effects unparalleled by other painting techniques: vibrant
colors, depth of view, even a sense of movement or three dimensions. He mixes
media, using a variety of paints and unconventional materials such as metallic
powders, crystals, and other substances. Then he hits the mixture with his
signature process, using millions of volts of electricity to add nebulosity and
other fantastic details to his paintings. Together, these techniques lend an
extraterrestrial feel. Viewing Archer's work is like looking through a spaceship
porthole into space.
This is an important, experimental Archer work; experimental because it is one of the very rare
pieces he created that contain more than just a space
scene. The blue lines cutting through the picture, the sub-paintings on the left
side and right corners, and the intricate robot-like objects in
the side frames are unique among his pieces. You won't find a more interesting
or beautiful piece of space art than this one. Of course, photos cannot do it justice - note the glare from the flash and
the poor contrast. Keep in mind that Archer used reverse-painting and electrical
techniques on the back side of the glass, which creates a rich and vibrant live
experience but is almost impossible to capture on film because I'm photographing
it through that layer of glass. You have to experience the piece in person to
get the full effect, but I have tried my best using varied lighting and
close-ups to show some of the detail. This is the most beautiful work of art we
owned. Archer's work is used by NASA, appears on Star Trek
television and movie sets, graces many book and magazine covers, and shows up
many other places as well. See
Archer's other
work on
his Web site,
and to learn more about the artist, check out
his
biography. This is an intriguing and gorgeous work for astronomers, science-fiction fans, space
aficionados, and fine-art lovers.
It's also a wonderful conversation-starter, more so even than most of Archer's less-experimental work.
In the next photo, below, you can really see how Archer's use of Tesla equipment makes his paintings come to life and
like
like nothing else in this world. Note the nebulous halo around the large, central planet, how the blue world stands in sharp
contrast to the starry background, how the large nebula seems almost organic. (I apologize for the curtain reflection on the right
side of this photo.) What you can't see in these photos is how 3-dimensional
this technique makes Archer's works appear.
Questions or comments?
Also, feel free to contact me via email.
This piece packs into the original padded, wooden crate for safe storage and
transport. Original paperwork and the artist's signature is attached to the back, and
we also include other documentation, such as the original appraisal.
We sold this painting (yes, it is sold: Thank you, Aaron!) at less than our
original cost, making this piece of
original art an excellent investment.
We have not had an official appraisal since we bought it from the gallery, but an unofficial estimate from Archer's art dealer
says that his work from this period is generally worth double the original price, which was $2700. The purchase price for you to own this piece of art
was $2600.
Shipping cost approximately $33, and
insurance was $27. I paid for shipping this piece to its new home in
Sebastopol, California. This is the perfect gift for yourself or a loved one who is a space
enthusiast. Also a great piece to display at your place of business to supply a
technical but artistic feel to any room. 
I took this photo aiming the camera up at the piece on the wall
in an effort to avoid a flash reflection.
The white around it is the wall, as in the other photos, below.
I took this photo straight on to try to reveal detail.
Big flash reflection in the middle.
This photo shows detail in the lower-center of the painting.
The colors are amazing, even more lively when viewed with the naked eye, when
you can see
metallic tones, furious blends of color, stars and hidden worlds....
This photo shows detail in the lower-left side of the
painting. Here is where Archer breaks new ground.
You can see some of the left-side detail, which I think represents the robot's
memory of his explorations.
This photo shows detail on the right side of the
painting, revealing more of Archer's experimental techniques.
This clearly tells more about the robotic explorer - his internal design? His
method of remembering his explorations?
This photo shows detail in the center of the painting,
including many planets, stars, and a nebula.
I've said it before and will say it again: A photo is a poor way to reveal the
wonder contained in this piece of art.
Come visit us for a personal showing!
This photo shows more details in the center of the painting.
The large world appears to be gold leaf and gold paint, but knowing Archer's
unique style, it could be anything!
This photo at left shows Dave Archer at work. Click that photo
to see a movie of Dave Archer using his Tesla painting equipment.
The photo at right captures Archer sending electrical arcs through paint, which
is how he creates his masterpieces.
I took this photo without flash to show a little different detail.
These photos show the documentation attached to the back of
the painting.