Eatitall

Recent paintings pt. 2

During the last season or so of Squidbillies on Adult Swim ( I design and paint the backgrounds ), there was an episode that took place at a religious theme park. While conceptualizing and designing the rides for it, I included a dinosaur ride merry-go-round with a meteor on top of it. Recently, I thought I would try it out in oils and represented as a closed ride (no longer functioning) because the dinosaurs are extinct. It turned out kind of poignant I think.

Water soluable oils on wood panel.

Some recent paintings pt. 1

Many years ago, I thought I would get into making art out of gourds. What else does one think when they see a gourd, right?

It was the mid 90's. I picked out a gourd. I thought what better home for a bird than the body of a bird with a hole where the belly was where birds could hang out,...you know, conceptually, the way all birds do. I made it and hung it at every home I inhabited for about 10 or so years, when finally, a little Carolina Wren made her home in it. I snapped some pictures and that was that. It would be the only gourd I would make. How do you top that?

The painting is Water soluble oil on wood panel. 

 

Adult Swim is Great

 

This is a promo I designed and executed under the direction of Pete Smith.   As you can see, it borrows heavily from the Russian constructivist movement of design.

I was most fortunate to have the great audio that Pete wrote and directed.

 

Leila's dogs

My friend Leila grew up around the punk scene in New York. She became a badass marine scientist and settled down here in Mississippi a few years back and genuinely embraces her new home. She could also bake your grandmother under the table. She has two dogs she's crazy about. I had just resumed painting after a 3 or 4 year break from it and I needed a subject and a challenge. So I picked a photo she had taken and posted and set about to render her babies in black and white. Not having a formal education, I marvel every time a painting comes out to my satisfaction....or near satisfaction. It looks reminiscent of a boy scout manual illustration from the 50's.

(acrylic on wood panel)

Which came first, the acorn or the tree?

When my daughter Audrey was 6, we were driving through Atlanta traffic in the rain. Solemnly, she offered up this peace of wisdom from the back seat. 

The River Styx

Long ago on Squidbillies, a couple of the characters were going to journey down the River Styx. I proposed this sketch, which rightfully was rejected as it drew too much attention to itself. I like running into it every now and then.

Perspective

I began shooting photographs around the age of 15.  I never intended to pursue it as a career. I just used it as another tool to see differently and another way to express myself.  Those two factors are still my primary motivators. Discovering mirrorless digital cameras and particularly the micro four thirds format really changed the whole idea of photography for me. I enjoyed my Nikon 7100 very much, but DSLRs of that size are prohibitively large to me. Whereas, I can carry my micro four-thirds mirrorless and 3 lenses ranging from 4 to 300mm everywhere in a bag smaller than a backpack with art supplies to boot. The point of that was to say that I pretty much carry my camera everywhere I go. 

I was visiting my daughter at her job with a Nursery. Walking around, waiting to see her, I spotted a small assortment of those religious figures that people like to put in their yards. I was struck by the almost silent film era quality of the b/w shots where I brought the camera down to the level of the figures making them look actual size. To give context I included the distant shots in color. Also, the prices were hanging on the figures with twine, but framed the right way, these two photos could easily be addressing religious persecution.

Mercury

While working and living alone in Munich around 1992, I did this self-portrait. I was inspired by the abundance of statuary around the city and just invented this bust of Mercury for this illustration. The only reason, I believed at the time, would be that his hat provided shelter.

Nearly 20 years later, in 2000, my daughter Audrey was born. It was a completely new, frightening, and soul-defining event. I wouldn't have described it that way then.  Then I didn't know what to say. Never having a dad in my life, I didn't have many fatherly lessons to go on. So, to ease my mind I mentally took her to sit where I had once found comfort and a small sense of security and painted this.

Now, its another 20 years later and nothing seems nailed down....not even the truth. So one night, not knowing what to paint, I go back to have a seat with Mercury and the place in my mind has filled out.

When I chose him nearly 40 years ago, I didn't want a statue adorned with a story. I didn't want him in armour being valient in battle. I wanted a massive statue at peace. Communicating only peace. My Mercury would be content to provide shelter and look good doing it.  While I revel in the joy of the past, the pain and struggle appears to have added depth and a little maturity to my art and hopefully me along with it.

With personal art, I don't think the ideas through. They appear out of nowhere. If I try to think about them, the idea deconstructs and becomes useless and not fit for materials. I find if I let them be and use them as they appear, they work. Wherever they come from has to be a good place. I'm glad I'm connected to it.

 

Old sketchbook entry. The information gained from some article about various and unique cameras.

Leroy has passed

Leroy was a stray taken in by a friend. Leroy appeared to know what human buttons to push and loved pushing them. Nothing he did was predictable, including his death.  Not being more than 4 years old, they found him passed away in the closet. This was a painting I did of the fellow. I don't normally paint in the style of 'Rod Serling's Night Gallery' and that wasn't necessary the goal here, but I sure achieved it. A proper influence to be sure.

Acrylic.