“Curtailing Progress by Circular Reasoning” is another piece in long line of long titled pieces.  “I will stop repeating myself…” is repeated over a graveyard image, kind of a “goes around/comes around” spin based partly on the “cur tail” wordplay.  Cur is an almost archaic word- perhaps irrelevant… something you might say before a pistol duel, “You sir, are a mangy cur! I demand satisfaction!” SLAP!  … I digress.  Of course, I personally repeat myself repeatedly, but hope and (usually) strive for something better.

Title: Curtailing Progress by Circular Reasoning

Size: 48” x 48”

Medium: Reverse painted clear acrylic with collage and objects in a shadow box

Year: 2008

Master and slave morality, domination, strength, power imbalance and other general “Bully” phenomenon are explored using one of my favorite shapes from this series. From schoolyard shenanigans and cruelty to military invasions, “Bullying” is a pervasive animal/human characteristic worthy of some attention and dialog.

Note: Despite their tendency to slobber, snore and snort- real English Bulldogs tend to be very sweet and good with children .  This work is in no way intended to besmirch the reputation of any bulldog, living or dead.

Title: (Down) Bully
Size: 48” x 48”
Medium: Reverse painted clear acrylic with objects and painted collage in a shadow box.
Year: 2009

This is an early piece from the Command Series, dealing with common attributes of dogs and men.  Positive canine qualities like absolute loyalty and trust are less appealing in people as greed for treats trumps all other possibilities.  This piece has two layers of painted acrylic, with a transfer of stock market quotes in the background. An obvious reference to a preposterous system of ravenous greed, organized in neat little columns of harmless looking numbers.

The image was used as the T Shirt art for the 2009 Gasparilla Festival of the Arts in Tampa.

Title: Fetch

Medium: 2 sheets of painted acrylic, with collage in a shadow box.

Year: 2007

Size: 48″ x 48“

This one is based on a crude shape that I’ve used a few different ways. This particular piece has a raw energy that works for me.

Title: “Cur Age”

Medium: Reverse painted clear acrylic with collage, paint and objects in a shadow box.

Year: 2008

Size: 48″ x 48″

Awards:

• Best of Show, 2009 Boardwalk Art Show, Virginia Beach
• 1st Place Decatur Arts Festival, GA

Religious and canine expressions meld together through synonyms, misspellings and visual layering.  In a no mans land between humor and cruelty, this is a cutesy pop expression of my own dog-like bewilderment regarding misguided human potential.

Title: “Bow Prey”

Medium: Reverse painted clear acrylic with collage and objects in a shadow box.

Year: 2008

Size: 32″ x 32″

This is part of the “Command Series” and deals with the eager to please subservient nature of dogs and men. Despite the simple overall graphic, up close the paint moves nicely and the background is layered with little treats.

Title: “Old Tricks”

Medium: Reverse painted clear acrylic with collage, paint and objects in a shadow box.

Year: 2009

Size: 48″ x 48″

This piece is based on a primitive sketch that I made of a Truck hood ornament that I have in the studio. An icon of strength is vulnerable to the jittery painting and unclear meaning of the word(s) surrounding him

Title: Courage (Big Mac) Command Series

Medium: Reverse and front painted clear acrylic with painting, collage and objects in a shadow box.

Year: 2009

Size: 64″ x 64″ x 3″

Awards:

• Award of Excellence, 2009 Winter Park Sidewalk Art Show