The Crystal Miner
16x20
Oil on Panel
2025
Following his sister’s extraterrestrial abduction and his breakup with the desert sorceress, Orren Mawson found himself alone and lonely. He spent most of his days deep in caves questing for crystals and valuable minerals that he would later trade for horse food, friendship bracelets, and fruit pies. Unfortunately, Orren was friendless. Then one day amongst the stalactites and bats in the flathmoless below, deep within his discontent, Orren met someone luring in the darkness. It was a fellow miner.
This miner was of the rare robotic variety—a machine controlled by a disembodied and elongated human skull brimming with psychological expertise and metaphysical wisdom. The robot miner said it had been waiting for him. The miner guided Orren to a pedestal upon which rested a pyromorphite crystal of exceptional potency. The vibrational resonance emitted by the exquisite crystal was indescribable, and Orren nearly passed out.
Slowly but surely, the crystal’s energy penetrated Orren’s heart, and he felt his spirits lift. His attitude changed, his thoughts became more expansive, and new possibilities began showing themselves. Orren was in charge of his own happiness. He would put himself out there, meet new people, and design the life that he truly wanted.
Orren then produced a friendship bracelet from his pocket and tied it around one of the miner’s metal robot wrists. The miner’s skull clicked its teeth together in appreciation.