SoMeTiMeS i SiT

 

 

 

 

 

UNDER THE MOON

36″ x 60″ Mixed Media on Canvas

 

Sometimes I sit under the moon and think we must be here for a reason. Another year passes and we change with the seasons. Try not to mistake these signs for chance. Try to follow the rhythms of their dance. Don’t get frustrated by the same old routine. Read between the lines and find out what they mean. Your future could be looking right into your eyes. Don’t get too mixed up and make yourself go blind. These things have been written, they are part of your path. Brush off all the people that sit back and laugh. They know not what to do with this opportunity. They missed all the signs, they just don’t see. Take this world, take it in your hands. Take this world and fill it with your plans. You are they one that holds the key. Only you can unlock your destiny.

So FoaMy

WHITE WATER

7″ x 15″ Mixed Media on Wood

 

Surrounded. Gasping for air in a giant washing machine filled with foam. Which way is up? Which way is down? Getting tossed around like a rag-doll in the mouth of a pit-bull. You have no control. Just when you finally pop out another set rolls in. This time worse than the last. Try to roll with it. Don’t panic. You’ll make it through this. When you do, you’ll paddle back out and try it again. Have no fear. Be Strong. Face the day. Be the wave.

He SiNGS

FOR THE MASSES

12″ x 24″ Mixed Media on Omega Bond

He does it for the people, for the masses, for the Earth. He does it trying to tell us what this life is really worth. He sings for the people and they sing along. He sings for the masses and they chant his songs. Songs of life, self-worth, and positive things. Songs of freedom, slowing down and seeing everything. He does it trying to help rewrite the book. He does it so that you’ll stop and take a look. He sings for the love inside you and I. He sings for the souls of the most high. Songs of dreams becoming reality. Songs for the masses. Songs for you and me.

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.

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.

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!!! 

STRuCK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ELECTRIC CITY

24″ x 48″ Mixed Media on Wood

You could feel it as you walked through the city.  There was this sort of buzz in the air.  Everyone was talking about it in some way.  Everyone was going to be there.  The max capacity would not hold the amount of people that wanted to see his work.  Some of them would have to peek in through the windows.  There was wine and hors d’oeuvres, lots of conversation and praise.  It was electric in a way.  When the night was over every piece had been sold.  Everyone was happy.  Then… I woke up.

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…

THiS ReMiNDS Me oF

MAKE THE CONNECTION

10″ x 10″ Mixed Media on Paper

 

This one started with a spray painted background on paper.  Then I took these color samples (for matte board) and stuck them down onto the page.  Next, I sat in the living room drawing, writing and watching TV with my wife, my brother Matt & our friend Joe.  While we were hanging out I would ask what is the first thing that comes to mind when I say light blue?  What is the first thing that comes to mind when I say toaster? And so on and so on until I thought it was finished.  This is a mash up of their trains of thought.  Do you follow them or do you think of something else?

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