Sometimes I Hate What I Do

The current painting I'm working on is the most emotionally painful piece I have ever worked on. I should have it finished by this time next week and will as always post it.

New Art at long last...

I was careless and foolishly spilled my bottle of motivation about a month ago. The refill arrived last week and I'm back to full speed again, so much so that I worked overtime and finally completed a painting that should have been done two weeks ago - oh well, shit happens. Who knows, maybe that was art's way of telling me that I needed to step away from the canvas for a little while. Here is the latest painting:

"Out of Bondage II - The Domestics"

54" x 68"

Oil on Canvas

(select to enlarge)

Some may recognize these two ladies - they are actual slaves freed by the Emancipation Proclamation and were part of a larger group photographed outside a large building. It's so easy for us to look at some of those old images taken 150 years ago and gloss over the faces but they fascinate and pull me in. Considering what their lives were and more importantly, what they were to become in the perilous days ahead screamed out to me. The look of quiet resolve and defiance in the face of uncertainty made this painting a joy to render. I painted them in color against a black and white background to pull them out of the past and place them firmly amongst us - after all, everything they were is everything we are. I only wish I knew their names and could post their narratives alongside the painting to give their lives even greater meaning and context. I was lucky to have run across the slave narrative of Richard Toler - the gentleman in the first painting. If there are any historians who know who these women were, PLEASE contact me.

This may sound strange, but after painting this picture I sat with a bottle of wine in the studio and stared at their faces while listening to Nina Simone sing the blues in the background. We must have sat staring at each other for nearly two hours and it was almost as if I could hear them talking to me. It was such a melancholy moment that I didn't want to end. Maybe it was the wine, huh? I already have the next image ready to go and should have that one completed by the end of next week. I'm really looking forward to that one - it's gonna make me cry - I can feel it.

I will be creating prints of this series shortly so if anyone wants one - let me know.

Obama asks to borrow Rockwell painting

The Problem We All Live With

Norman Rockwell

The Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge has just announced that President Obama has asked it if the White House can borrow one of its most treasured paintings, Rockwell's "The Problem We All Live With," to mark the 50th Anniversary of Ruby Bridges's momentous walk to school, which marked the beginning of the racial integration of the William Frantz Public School in New Orleans on November 14, 1960. Rockwell's painting was made for the cover of the January 14, 1964, issue of "Look" magazine. It's one of his most powerful, courageous, and ardent pictures. The museum has agreed to the request. The painting will be on display at the White House until October 31.

Original post by Sebastian Smee

New Print

At a client's request I have printed one of the coloring book pages 'Chocolate Americans'. The single artist proof has been sold but the remaining 5 are available at my print store. I will be adding more limited edition prints in the near future. As for the prints - I highly recommend that any buyer allow a child to color them in with crayons before framing! Consider it 'activating' the art.

Chocolate Americans

22" x 30"

silkscreen on paper

edition size: 5 + 1 artist proof

Art Storefront finally open

I finally reworked and revamped my website storefront. I still have more things to add but this is a decent start. I get a lot of questions about prints and posters of my art. I'm in the process of making prints of a few works, but less expensive posters of some of my more asked about images are now available. If anyone wants an image that is not currently stocked on the shelf - let me know and I'll put it in the inventory.

You can access the storefront by clicking here.


Each month I will be slashing prices on a poster. In honor of Independence Day, 'American History X' will be on sale for $25 until the end of the month. 

American History X

20" x 24"

Plantation Coloring & Activity Book

The latest coloring book has been completed! Another piece marked off the list for the upcoming exhibition at REDUX titled 'Plantation (Plan-ta-shun)'. I will be silk-screening 25 portfolios of these as well as making a few actual coloring books. 

Cover

acrylic on board

30" x 40"

Connect The Dots

acrylic on board

30" x 40"

Cotton Picking Fun

acrylic on board

30" x 40"

Drawing Fun

acrylic on board

30" x 40"

Find Two Alike

acrylic on board

30" x 40"

REBUS

acrylic on board

30" x 40"

Word Game

acrylic on board

30" x 40"

Jim Crow

acrylic on board

30" x 40"

I gave in and finally joined Facebook.

Part of the great unwashed now.

Too funny not to post!

For all the parents out there with toddlers:

Margaret Bowland

An exhibition of Margaret Bowland's work is currently on display at the Greenville County Museum of Art. I plan to make a trip and see the work before it comes down. The visuals speak for themselves and don't need my ridiculous commentary. Here is her website if you want to learn more - Margaret Bowland.

And The Cotton is High

82" x 70"

Oil on Linen

Another Thorny Crown - Gray J

74" x 54"

Oil on Linen

The Artist

74" x 54"

Oil on Linen

Flower Girl

48" x 52"

Oil on Linen

Aaron Douglas

Another artist that has informed my work is often referred to as the 'father of African American arts, Aaron Douglas. Though he fought against the label and refused to wear the crown, he nonetheless still bears the halo of respect which radiates for all to see. 

Aaron Douglas (1899-1979)

I first encountered his art at a yard sale. A woodcut, Flight, from his 'Emperor Jones' series was used as a cover illustration for William Melvin Kelley's A Different Drummer (an awesome read - pick it up if you can). I purchased the book for a dollar solely for the cover illustration and after re-drawing, used it as the base image for my silk-screened piece, Plantation Yo-Yo (Run, Nigger, Run). 

'Flight'                                              'Plantation Yo-Yo'

You can see the same image throughout my Plantation series. Intrigued by the stylistic shape, I checked out a book on the Harlem Renaissance and was blown away by Aaron's art. Though he painted in a variety of styles, it is the colorful multi-layered murals depicting various aspects of African American life intermingled with African and Egyptian motifs that have come to define his career. The large hulking figures and complex narratives presented in what appears to be a simplistic style draws you in and mesmerizes your senses. You literally cannot take your eyes off the pieces until you have explored them to their fullest. Here are some examples:

'Aspiration'

'Song of the Towers'

'Building More Stately Mansions'

Like many, I assumed that the work was simplistic based on the compositional elements. WRONG! I tried to paint one of his images on the wall of my den and after a week gave up in frustration. The layering combined with the top glazing (I assume that is what it is) he used baffled the hell out of me. Still can't figure out how the man did what he did! Nonetheless, I can;'t get enough of this man's work and can only hope that one day my art has the same visual and generational impact that his work has. I urge any and everyone to delve further into his art. Here is his bio from Wikipedia: