VIVA Velveeta

Acrylic and Spray paint on Wood. 

Blood, Bile, and a Itch'n Camaro 1/18/2012

                       

I have to thank my friend and coworker Sara Fine for the inspiration of this piece.  She gave me an Anatomy Coloring Book that has given me much inspiration.  I have no idea what this piece is saying.  But the idea of bile and blood coming out of the body seems cleansing.  I know its gross and disgusting, but the idea of the body making fresh fluids is a bit of a rebirth.  And the Camaro was or originally suppose to be a yellow school bus. But, I figured I would conserve resources and use one of my daughter, Lulu's, cars.  This was and idea that just came to me with no real symbolism.  Hopefully you will find it entertaining.  

Acrylic on Board

1967 Camaro by Matchbox

3 Waring Nations - Heart, Hands, and Head.

“The heart is more treacherous than anything else and is desperate. Who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9

In this world we all have a war going on between the brain, the  heart, and its accomplice the hands.  Trying to get these three to work together for our benefit can be a constant struggle.  We all  have obligations, desires and passions.  Balancing these in an imperfect environment can be very trying.  This painting symbolizes that for me.  Our lives can bring us much pain, or overwhelming joy.  But, this all depends on what the head and hands are doing.  The emotions from the heart can turn sensible thoughts into insanity.  The brain can make the heart want what it didn't even know it needed.  And the hands can bring you the beautiful and the putrid, depending on what the brain and the heart tell them to fetch.

I have been obsessing over the idea of using a heart in my work for a few years, the beauty and the gore of it.  I seem to always want to paint everything pink.  Pink is a comforting color for me.  Whenever I want to paint something I always ask myself  "How would pink look?" A pink padded cell at times sounds relaxing.

Mixed Media 3'10" X 5'1"

BULL 8-27-2006

This is one of those paintings you paint and your not sure if you hate it or love it.  I feel that it's missing something.  Help me out.  Any ideas.  Thanks 

Acrylic on canvas

Manatee 9-26-2011

  

Lulu's has a game where you can fish for different sea creatures.  Her favorite is the manatee or as she calls it "MANTEE",  also her mother's favorite.  It inspired me to paint this for her.   

Acrylic on Canvas 5in. X 7in.

Cypress Trees

Here is a painting I did in 2006 of some Cypress Trees.  This was a gift to my wife.  She loves the look of Cypress Trees and would always comment on them whenever she saw a tree or a photo of one.  I think this originally began from a holiday she took in Italy.  Acrylic on Canvas.

Friut

While my daughter Lulu played Play Dough, or painted or drew.  I would work on this piece.  Normally I don't care for still life bowls of fruit.  But, after reading a biography of Frida Kahlo,  I was inspired by Frida Kahlo's take on fruit.  This is what our bowl of fruit looks like, often being pillaged by my Lulu.