"King Pest"

48" x 48"

acrylic, colored pencil on wood panel

Then I got to this one- aptly titled "King Pest" because it was a glorious pain in my ass. It's a great example of pain and pleasure coming together. But just so you know- this painting ruled me from conception to completion, it dictated how it was going to look every step of the way- but I had a big smile when I was finished.

"Cockfight II"

36" x 38"

acrylic & colored pencil on wood panel

I did a new painting of a cropped section of the previous. It brings your eye right up to the tension and reaction. It made the scenario more immediate, and it was cool to add more 

shine to the neck of the darker rooster.

"Cockfight I"

24" x 45"

acrylic & colored pencil on wood panel

The cockfight series came about with the frustration of myself- my two sides fighting for dominance of my actions. It goes deeper than that but let's just say that's where it started.

I love these pieces, they were fun to paint. As I progressed, I learned more with each piece, adding little touches to each one.

"Ramming Zebras"

24" x 60"

acrylic on wood panel

"Zebra Heads" ( triptych)

Each piece stands alone but I stacked them together in the studio while starting another painting and one day decided to leave them together as a triptych. I think the union is much more striking and makes you read the images as a whole much differently than as separate entities.

"Zebra Head 3"

30" x 36"

acrylic on wood panel

"Zebra Head 2"

30" x 36"

acrylic on wood panel

"Zebra Head 1 (albino)"

30" x 36"

acrylic on wood panel

Zebra head series arose from indecision. I did little studies of each, progressing each time and adding elements or just trying new tonal colors. After I finished the color sketches, I couldn't decide which one I liked best- so I painted them all. 

"Growth"

22" x 27"

acrylic & colored pencil on board

"Le Petit Mort"

25" x 29"

acrylic & colored pencil on board

"Crown O' Thorns"

25" x 26"

acrylic & colored pencil on board

some organic abstraction for your viewing pleasure...

(I had a request to show dimensions and media info-

I will get to it soon.)

blackbird study

18" x 48"

acrylic & colored pencil on wood panel

"Gold Birds" (diptych)

56" x 96"

acrylic, oil stick, & colored pencil on wood panel

I continue to play with this element- it's becoming somewhat iconic for me now.

"BlackBirds"

24" x 72"

acrylic, oil stick, & colored pencil on wood panel

After not seeing the original painting for years, I pick it up and saw something different and I reworked a section and went to the heart of the piece. It brought new life to the old work.

"L.A. Riots"

original painting (partial 1 & 2)

 

20" x 24"

acrylic & collage on  illustration board

After the L.A. riots, I painted a piece that epitomized the scene: the sheer anger and violence unleashed upon the local neighborhoods of South Central L.A. 

I was angry about the cause of it all, but I was more appalled by the results.

My one lasting impression was seeing the sky on fire with so much smoke.

"Bull"

58" x 58"

acrylic on paper

"Free at last"

54" x 74"

acrylic & oil stick on canvas

"Home"

61" x 84"

acrylic & oil stick on canvas

"Monster"

49" x 152"

acrylic & oil stick on canvas

"African Textile"

60" x 69"

acrylic & oil stick on canvas

"Totem"

76" x 118"

acrylic & oil stick on canvas

For the next few days, I am posting paintings that were shown in the "Art Mitzvah show" in December 2007.

The first series is the giant abstract textiles. Very African in nature and very freeing for me.

I wanted to break from the structure I normally work with and let the emotions, mind, and hands just flow... basically giant doodles.