more pics burned paper

My amazing wife took these pictures and she is a photographer so I thought I'd post some better quality pics for you to see. I really like the backround, which was her idea, it adds more to the pictures.

Strange fruit piece done!

Below are the lyrics from the song "Strange Fruit" followed by artworks I created inspired from the song. The first piece was the first of a new series I started in November 2009. The series consists of freehand burned images into newspaper articles. Each piece is created by slightly burning newspaper until it browns certain areas to reveal an image.

The subject of "Strange Fruit" is based on an anti-lynching poem by Abel Meeropol that was later adapted into a famous song, "Strange Fruit" by Billie Holiday. One of the stanzas in the song reads, "strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees," which is meant to represent the lynchings that had been occurring in America throughout the 20th century. Knowing and understanding the injustice behind the civil rights murders haunted me enough to create a visual depiction of these specific lynchings.

My pieces is a visual representation of the oppressed. If you look at the top image, first, you will notice that the overall shape of the piece is similar to that of an oddly shaped fruit hanging from above by chains and a noose. Second, you may notice that I burned these images into an article from the New York Times about abolitionist John Brown. Third, you may find faces within the burning which are meant to depict the agony of injustice, as a way to remember the atrocities that occurred. And lastly, amidst the burning you will find the face of the victim, Mack Charles Parker, who was lynched in 1959 without anyone ever being arrested for his murder.

Southern trees bear strange fruit
Blood on the leaves
Blood at the root
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees
Pastoral scene of the gallant south
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth
The scent of magnolia sweet and fresh
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh
Here is a fruit for the crows to pluck
for the rain to gather
for the wind to suck
for the sun to rot
for the tree to drop
Here is a strange and bitter crop

Burned Paper

I have just started a new series of works that ties into the civil rights theme in a lot of my work. This new series is based off of lynchings in the US. These images were created by burning pieces of newspaper, no paint or anything added just burnt paper. I know that these works I've done are very fragile and might not last long but I think it is the exact aesthetic for the pain and injustices that have occurred. I also think that the fragile nature represents the fact that this history is hard to face and is easier to ignore letting it crumble away into the forgotten. Lynchings have occurred as recent as July 24, 1981 Michael Donald was lynched and June 15, 2000 Raynard Johnson was lynched. These images are the first of many works to come in this style and on this subject.

new paintings

here some work that I've been doing just for fun

New quick painting

I just did this painting for a proposal to a church for a mural they might have me do based on John 7:38 but I wanted to try and add anguish to the face just for effect. Once again it's a cruddy picture from my phone but it was just a rough painting on cardboard.

random sketches

Here are some random sketches I've done.  Each one is to purvey the emotions of hurt.  The one on the bottom is a drawing of a civil rights era photo of two males being assaulted by a police officer, the photo was powerful and so I wanted to draw it to capture the brutal oppression that is often overlooked for convenience. 

More pics from Salvation Army paintings

These are the first two panels from the weekend, the themes were outcry for the lost and God hears our cry.

Intermountain Youth Councils

Here are some pics I took with my phone of two of four paintings I did for the Intermountain Youth Councils Salvation Army this weekend. I did each painting 4 ft x 8 ft in about two hours, all that practicing speed painting paid off. It was another amazing expirience with the Salvation Army.

cardboard speed paintings

I did these paintings to practice for my upcoming onstage painting for the Salvation Army. I didn't have any money for canvases so I painted these on some used cardboard. I painted each in an hour, trying to learn to paint better faster. Each one is probably 3 ft tall x 2 ft wide. I know these pics aren't the best I took them with my cell phone camera but as you can tell I'm trying to get away from perfectionism and just go for it!

The Infected movie poster, finished!

Here is the completed poster for "The Infected" now I'm really juiced!  Gotta love zombie movies, just classic

Painting for Salvation Army

I will be doing some onstage painting for The Salvation Army Youth Councils in Estes Park Oct. 2-4 so Colorado folk come on out if you dig.  The Salvation Army is one of my favorite clients, their missions and outreach is on point.  I always just thought they were a charity.  

The Infected movie poster

Here is a design I did for my friend Cougar Littlefield for his upcoming release "The Infected."  The piece was done by using ball point pen on paper.  The movie is a psychological zombie thriller it's gonna be awesome.  I'm juiced to be part of the movie!

performance painting from Dec.(CCCA)

This is a painting I did for the CCCA Conference at Disney this last Dec. The mural was donated to Laurel Mountain Christian Camp in PA for their brand new dining hall. It's cool to see the mural being used and also to see how much I've learned about painting faces on a large scale in the last year. This was my first on stage painting, which has now led to many other similar opportunities. It's crazy to see where it all started, and I gotta say I'm thankful to Greg Fields for going out on a limb and giving me the opportunity to paint for CCCA.

New painting, almost done

Here is a pic of a painting right before I finished it for MPPC.  I will post more once I get pics of it finished, enjoy.

Las Vegas Mural

I just finished doing a mural at AB&L in Las Vegas for my father in law Jim.  He wanted Ruby's on the Huntington pier with a VW 64' Double Cab in front of it.  It was an awesome experience and challenged me to remember how to do seascapes.  It was also just awesome to hang with Jim down at his dealership!  Here is a few pics of start to finish

A painting for Jimbo

I did this painting for my father in law for fathers day.  His favorite car is a VW Double Cab so I thought I'd give it a try.  Jim is the man!  I'm scheduled to do a mural for him in a couple of weeks in Las Vegas at his lot, so there will be more double cab to come!!

Southwest Youth Councils more pics

I met some incredible people and had such an awesome time at the Salvation Army Youth Councils in New Mexico so here are some more pics.  

Reproductions for sale

"The Willie Edwards Case" 30"x40" $175

Art should be accessible to everyone. That is why I'll take a hit to lower the prices of my reproductions from $350 to $175. All of my 5 paintings to the left that are based on unsolved civil rights murders are now $175 each. The reproductions are large giclee's 30''x40.'' Each painting is based on an actual unsolved civil rights murder case that I will send along with the painting. Check out the links below to read about each case. We need to spread awareness of injustice so that these atrocities don't remain along the margins of our history.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Edwards

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamar_Smith_(activist

http://www.essays.cc/free_essays/d3/bsw119.shtml

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8670054/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Lee

"The Lamar Smith Case" 30"x40" $175
























"The Moore's Ford Case" 30"x40" $175
























"The Johnnie Mae Chappell Case" 30"x40" $175























"The Rev. George Lee Case" 30"x40" $175