GET UP STAND UP

8.5″ x 11″ Marker on Paper

Preacherman don’t tell me, Heaven is under the Earth. I know you don’t know what life is really worth. It’s not all that glitters is gold. Half the story has never been told. So now you see the light, eh! Stand up for your rights. Come on!

Most people think, Great God will come from the skies. Take away everything and make everybody feel high. But if you know what life is worth. You will look for yours on Earth. And now you see the light. You stand up for your rights. Jah!

We sick and tired of- your ism-skism game – Dyin’ ‘n’ goin’ to Heaven in-a Jesus’ name, Lord. We know when we understand. Almighty God is a living man. You can fool some people sometimes. But you can’t fool all the people all the time. So now we see the light… Stand up for your right!

GET UP STAND UP, DON’T GIVE UP THE FIGHT…

Get Up Stand Up ~ Bob Marley & The Wailers

AMBUSHED

10″ x 10″ Mixed Media on Paper

See them fighting for power. But they know not the hour. So they bribing with their guns, spare-parts and money. Trying to belittle our integrity now. They say what we know is just what they teach us. And we’re so ignorant ’cause every time they can reach us. Through political strategy. They keep us hungry. And when you gonna get some food, your brother got to be your enemy.
Well, what we know Is not what they tell us. We’re not ignorant, I mean it and they just cannot touch us. Through the powers of the Most-High, we keep on surfacin’. Thru the powers of the Most-High, we keep on survivin’.
Yeah, this ambush in the night, planned by society. Ambush in the night. They tryin’ to conquer me. Ambush in the night. Anything money can bring. Ambush in the night, planned by society… Ambush In the Night – Bob Marley & The Wailers

DON’T WORRY

24″ x 36″ Mixed Media on Wood

When life gets me down I put it on and play it loud… Don’t Worry.  When my niece gets nervous, to calm her down she sings your song to lose her frown… Don’t Worry.  When my brother is bummed cause the sun is not out, he puts it on and clears the clouds… Don’t Worry.  If you are feeling sad, if you’ve got the blues, just put it on and he’ll sing to you… Don’t worry, about a thing. Cause every little thing, is gonna be alright…

~ Three Little Birds, Bob Marley & The Wailers

A huge thanks goes out to Christian Gallego for letting me “steal” his idea. His Bob Marley caricature is the inspiration behind my painting.  You can see his caricature and more of his art at:  http://christiangallego.blogspot.com/p/2d-characters.html

Thank you again so much!!!

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!

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

COCK-A-DOODLE DOODLE

11″ x 15″ Pen & Marker on Watercolor Paper

Rise up this mornin’.  Yawn with the rising sun.  There is a bird, that’s in my mind set.  Singin’ sweet songs, to me to get me out of bed.  And get images into my head, head, head…  Singin’ start drawing… everything.  Cuz everything you draw… is gonna be just right.  Singin’ start drawing… everything.  Cuz everything you draw… is gonna be just right.  Rise up this mornin’.  I got a pen in hand.  I got some paper and markers too.  I’m gonna draw now, draw now for all of you, you, you… Singin’ start drawing… everything.  Cuz everything you draw… is gonna be just right.  Singin’ start drawing… everything.  Cuz everything you draw… is gonna be just right.  ~my take on Three Little Birds

WORDS FROM THE PROPHET

18″ x 24″ Mixed Media on Canvas

If me want, me no really crave. Can’t want. Because where me grow, me know everything you could want. Stones was my toys and trees and bush and flowers. They were my toys. So I don’t grow up and want things. Is millions of stones used to be around me, and me used to go play amongst the flowers and them, and play as a little youth; and so me grow up loving the hills more than the things of want. Because want is just the things you want that people make; so I really want nothing.  ~Bob Marley

BY MY DOORSTEP

11″ x 15″ Marker & Pen on Watercolor Paper

I know you’ve seen these little birds on a canvas already, but I had to finish off the sketch.  Not to mention, I think these guys are pretty cool and I love the song.  So, I hope you all have a good day and if anything is bothering you maybe it really isn’t that big of a deal.

WAR

24″ x 36″ Aerosol on Metal

Until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned, everywhere is war.  And until there are no longer first-class and second-class citizens of any nation, until the color of a man’s skin is of no more significance than the color of his eyes.  And until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all without regard to race, there is war.  And until that day, the dream of lasting peace, world citizenship, rule of international morality, will remain but a fleeting illusion to be pursued, but never attained… now everywhere is war.  ~ Haile Selassie

CHANT DOWN

11″ x 12″ Mixed Media on Wood

Babylon is all around us.  It is the government.  It is the various systems that are in place trying to govern our existence to fit certain molds.  Consumerism, material wealth, politricks, money and more, are these the things that really matter today?  They were put in place to put the people in their place.  Chant dem down!  Sing the songs of revolution and inform the people that we do not need these systems.  We need to live off the land and be free!  Chant dem down!  Don’t be a victim of the system anymore.  Chant dem down with the sounds of reggae music!  Jah Live!

VOODOO BOB

9″ x 12″ Marker & Pen

Don’t worry… about a thing… cuz every little thing… gonna be alright.  Even as a voodoo style drawing Mr. Marley still looks pretty cool.  Listening to his music gets me thinking about what I want my “legacy” to be.  What will I leave behind for people to remember me by when I’m gone?  Maybe that is what this project is about.  It’s allowing me to tap into my creativity and leave some sort of lasting impression and/or inspiration to people.  Only Time Will Tell…