WHaT i’Ve SeeN

CLOSED MY EYES

8″ x 10″ Mixed Media on Canvas

 

Close my eyes see the holes in the sky. Close my eyes and wonder why. Close my eyes to remember your face. You are missed, I was crushed when you left this place. Ten years in life never seemed so fast. Ten minutes in the end seemed to last and last. Close my eyes wish I could have done more. Wonder everyday what you had to go for. Gave you my breath, but it just wouldn’t take. Pounded on your chest, but you just wouldn’t wake. Look up at night see the holes in the sky. Close my eyes and I wonder why. Close my eyes hope all is okay. Close my eyes… know we’ll meet again… someday.

FoR You

 

MY LOVE

12″ x 24″ Mixed Media on Omega Bond

 

Give you my heart, my soul and everything I am. Every line, every dot, every drop of paint from the can. Let you in, try to give you a little piece of me. Bare my soul in my work hoping you can see. Loving the response, the likes and checking them everyday. Your feedback, your words and what you have to say. Filling your home with my emotions on your walls. Someday to be passed down to hang in your kid’s halls. This project has grown into more than just mine. For you or a friend there has become something to find. To come back to… To enjoy… To take with you… To give to someone else… To love. Thank you…

TaKe WHaT You NeeD

 

 

 

 

 

SUGAR DADDY

24″ x 48″ Mixed Media on Wood

 

Try to give you what you want.  Hope you take only what you need.  Just can’t be no sugar daddy.  Fancy clothes, cars, phones, diamond rings.  None of those things are my thing.  Fake boobs, make-up, nail salons.  I’m passin’ by and movin’ on.  Gucci, Prada, Louie V.  Big name bags don’t impress me.  Who are you really?  What’s inside?  Behind the smoke and mirrors that you hide.  What moves you?  What breaks your heart?  Are you funny and are you smart?  Are you worth more than what you buy?  I need to get into your mind.  Just can’t be no sugar daddy.

MoRe WaTeR, MoRe SuN

FLOWEBURST

10″ x 15″ Mixed Media on Wood

Seed gets planted, just doesn’t grow. Not enough water, not enough sun. Needed more attention. Seed gets planted, something begins to show. Little more water, little more sun. Little more attention. Seed gets planted… BLAM!!! Something begins to SPRouT! SPRiNG! FLoW! More water!!! More sun!!! This could be big, this could be the one! Stars aligning. Planetary shifts. Cycles of the universe, bring this seed a gift. Let this flower grow, let it have a thirst. Let this growth be big. Let it be… a Floweburst. Happening for a reason, not just because of chance. Floweburst do your thing. Floweburst just dance, dance… dance.

eNCoMPaSSiNG

CIRCLE SPACE

8.5″ x 11″ Mixed Media on Board

 

 

Why circles? Why do I paint so many circles? Is it because they are the perfect shape? Is it because they are infinite? We have circles of friends. Everything comes full circle. Circle of life. Perfect circle. Inner Circle. 360 degrees in a circle. Walk around in circles. Circle circle circle. It doesn’t sound like a word anymore. Circle.

FoR My DauGHTeR

SHE WANTS

12″ x 18″ Mixed Media on Wood

 

I haven’t seen your face before, but you are the most beautiful person in the world. I’ve yet to hear you make a sound, but cannot wait to listen to what you’ll have to say.  I don’t know yet what you want, but I know you will have dreams. I don’t know what you’ll need, but I’ll give you everything. I cannot wait to take your little hands into the palms of mine. I cannot wait to love you until the end of time.

LoNG LiVe

NESTA

8.5″ x 11″ Mixed Media on Silk Screen

 

Did you know that Bob’s middle name wasn’t Nesta?  Did you know that when he was born his father was 60 years old and his mother was only 16 years old?  Did you know that his father was a white man?  Did you know Bob died when he was 36 years old?  His last words to his oldest son David “Ziggy” Marley were “Money can’t buy life.”  Did you know that Bob’s name wasn’t Bob?  It wasn’t Robert.  It was Nesta.  Nesta Robert Marley.  If you haven’t see the new Marley movie by Kevin Macdonald it is out on DVD.  Totally worth watching for people who know nothing about Bob, casual fans and huge fans like me.  Long live Nesta!

SHiBuYa

IN THE CROSSWALK

18″ x 24″ Aerosol on Oak Tag

 

Here’s a fact:  Shibuya Crossing in Japan is the busiest crosswalk in the entire world.  It has been estimated that 2.4 million people use it everyday.  Another fact:  I’ve used it a few times too.  When Nicole and I were teaching in Japan we would take the train into Tokyo on the weekend to walk around and hangout.  It was so busy.  People flying around in every direction.  Being in that intersection would be the death of a claustrophobic person.  I know it might sound strange, but if you ever go to Japan you’ve got to go to Shibuya just to cross the street.  Oh, and the sushi and ramen noodle houses are great too.  Kanpai!!! 

PLaCe FRuiT HeRe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BOWL

Sculpture

Let me introduce you to Bowl.  So, I’m over at my mom’s house about to leave and she’s like oh hey, do you want this bowl for your project?  She pulls out this bowl that I had made back in college that I never finished.  It was just this raw thing waiting for new skin.  I was like sure, I’ll take that back and make it look a little nicer.  It can be part of the project.  This is Bowl.  Say hello…

WaSTeD iNN TRaFfiC

BUMPER TO BUMPER

18″ x 24″ Mixed Media on Oak Tag

 

Ever feel like you’ll be in traffic so long you’ll end up sleeping in your car for the night? Think about this the next time you’re stuck in traffic. What a waste…

The Texas Transportation Institute estimated that, in 2000, the 75 largest metropolitan areas experienced 3.6 billion vehicle-hours of delay, resulting in 5.7 billion U.S. gallons (21.6 billion liters) in wasted fuel and $67.5 billion in lost productivity, or about 0.7% of the nation’s GDP. It also estimated that the annual cost of congestion for each driver was approximately $1,000 in very large cities and $200 in small cities. Traffic congestion is increasing in major cities and delays are becoming more frequent in smaller cities and rural areas.

By late 2010, the five cities in the United States with the worst rush hour traffic congestion were New York City, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Seattle and Los Angeles  ~New York Times. 2010-11-24

No WaLL FLoWeR

PRETTY GIRL  (SOLD)

18″ x 18″ Mixed Media on Wood

“We felt the imprisonment of being a girl, the way it made your mind active and dreamy, and how you ended up knowing which colors went together. We knew that the girls were our twins, that we all existed in space like animals with identical skins, and that they knew everything about us though we couldn’t fathom them at all. We knew, finally, that the girls were really women in disguise, that they understood love and even death, and that our job was merely to create the noise that seemed to fascinate them.”   ~ Jeffrey EugenidesThe Virgin Suicides

FRoM My MiND FRoM My BoDy

 

 

 

 

 

FROM MY SOUL

36″ x 48″ Mixed Media on Wood

 

The voices in my head are shadows, shadows. She comes to me, to tell me what they’re after. Says it ain’t the end boy but you best be careful, careful. Might catch your tail end in a circle, circle. The ocean how she moves in ripples, ripples. In flashing lights I swear she wore old film then the color bleeds and she becomes an angel, angel, hmmm. Calls out to me like a siren to a scoundrel. And I say come on child, and I say come on child.
The blanket where she hides my virgin lights look to the sea where the cotton hits the turnpike. Staring at your knees but I don’t have the words right, words right now. If up to me my maker turned right, turned right. Lost another one but she still smiles, smiles. Black lava rocks and instead she sees for miles says she wants, oh wants to.
Stay a child, child right now. And wonders why we ever ever have to die. And I say come on child and I say come on child. Just a touch I’m gonna carry, carry. Another time where I probably shared the same life. The accent of a kiss whispers we’re married, married now. It’s either love or just the sun in my eyes and I say come on child. And I say come on child. Love love love love love…
~ Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros CHILD

HiGH aBoVe

NEW HEIGHTS

24″ x 48″ Mixed Media on Wood

When I first came up with the idea to climb this tree I was like oh sure, I can do that. Then I started. The beginning was easy. There were plenty of branches to grab onto and move up on. As I got further along it felt really good. So I climbed and climbed and climbed. I got passed the mid-section of the tree. Now I’m just beyond halfway and the top seems like a reality, but man this tree is big!  I know that if I keep climbing I’ll get there. I just can’t wait to be looking down at all the branches that helped get me to the top…

ToGeTHeR aS oNe

BLEED FOR YOU (GIFTED)

8″ x 10″ Mixed Media on Board

 

“Only once in your life, I truly believe, you find someone who can completely turn your world around. You tell them things that you’ve never shared with another soul and they absorb everything you say and actually want to hear more. You share hopes for the future, dreams that will never come true, goals that were never achieved and the many disappointments life has thrown at you. When something wonderful happens, you can’t wait to tell them about it, knowing they will share in your excitement. They are not embarrassed to cry with you when you are hurting or laugh with you when you make a fool of yourself. Never do they hurt your feelings or make you feel like you are not good enough, but rather they build you up and show you the things about yourself that make you special and even beautiful. There is never any pressure, jealousy or competition but only a quiet calmness when they are around. You can be yourself and not worry about what they will think of you because they love you for who you are. The things that seem insignificant to most people such as a note, song or walk become invaluable treasures kept safe in your heart to cherish forever. Memories of your childhood come back and are so clear and vivid it’s like being young again. Colors seem brighter and more brilliant. Laughter seems part of daily life where before it was infrequent or didn’t exist at all. A phone call or two during the day helps to get you through a long day’s work and always brings a smile to your face. In their presence, there’s no need for continuous conversation, but you find you’re quite content in just having them nearby. Things that never interested you before become fascinating because you know they are important to this person who is so special to you. You think of this person on every occasion and in everything you do. Simple things bring them to mind like a pale blue sky, gentle wind or even a storm cloud on the horizon. You open your heart knowing that there’s a chance it may be broken one day and in opening your heart, you experience a love and joy that you never dreamed possible. You find that being vulnerable is the only way to allow your heart to feel true pleasure that’s so real it scares you. You find strength in knowing you have a true friend and possibly a soul mate who will remain loyal to the end. Life seems completely different, exciting and worthwhile. Your only hope and security is in knowing that they are a part of your life.”  ~Bob Marley

GeT CeNTeReD

FROM WITHIN

36″ x 48″ Mixed Media on Wood

 

I think people are turning inward more now cause the world’s got in such a weird, crazy state. I think its making people think more about their life and what it is really that they are doing. And how do we interact with a world that’s going crazy? It’s a very important time.  ~Dave Davies
Standing on soil feels so much different than standing on city pavement; it lets you look inward and reflect and see who you really are, while you see a beautiful, unspoiled land as far as the eye can see. It allows your inner life to grow.  ~Ricardo Montalban