Chat with Karl about pensive images, and is the 'null point' an analogy for dying?

 I was very impressed by Karl's 3 minute, and I felt that he described, and skilfully demonstrated, the 'null point' quality I discussed previously. I messaged him and shared the post. Graciously he agreed I was alluding to the same quality, and we had a great discussion. He also found Jo Love's presentation, and the Pensive Image very relevant to his work. We had an interesting conversation that I have summarised below, with his permission.

Responding to my "needle balanced on its point" analogy, Karl responded that he is finding it hard to figure out how to balance that ‘needle’ with the paint and not disturb it with the image (like the air in that quote) it "gets a bit windy when I take it too far with the image"

He felt "Awkward Thoughts" (then unfinished) might have the same quality and suggested "just letting it slowly come to a stop. Like a coin rolling on the ground spinning until it’s flat. Embrace the chaos!". I explained that I feel the quality comes from balance somehow, and that the process of getting there should be reductive, not additive - not adding elements till the picture feels finished but rather removing elements until nothing else can be removed with out toppling it.

I shared "Waiting Place", and said I felt it came closest to the quality I am striving for. Karl kindly agreed and commented that it's the feeling that something is happening just outside the room. I counted that for me it's the feeling that something could just have happened, or just be about to happen, or that nothing has or will happen for a thousand years - it's something about having the potential for life but not having any at that moment nor any clue that it will have any life: the paper could be about to slip of the bench, or it could be there for an eon... If the door opens, the scene will collapse, but it might never open. Karl talked about the tension in the image, and I agreed it was tension but also suspension - the potential for 'life' (as movement/change) but with no clear trigger.

Karl shared "Sharon Tate's House" by Dexter Dalwood:

He suggested I should look at more of Dalwood's work. I really like the image above, and definitely feel it has the quality of the 'null point'. I think it's the light, especially the tension between the light/movement/life on the right and the dark/immobile/dead left. Karl added "...signs of life, stillness but something looming - has happened or is about to happen...".

Having completed "Awkward Thoughts", I'm not sure how I feel about it. I want to love it, but I feel edgy about it. Maybe that's a good thing. It's definitely a step further outside my comfort zone. For me the solidity of the heads coupled with the frozen movement of the butterfly have something of the quality I am seeking, but I feel trapped as to how to 'know'.