For Therein Is The Majesty Of God Revealed In Every Man
-Infinite Gifts-
With Infinite Diversity
Recent news
New for July 2015
Congratulations: You’ve been accepted!
Well, for the first time in a long time my work has been accepted in a show (The 51st TAG Annual to be exact). The piece entitled, “Skewed Perspective” will be on display from Saturday July 11th, to August 29th. I’m very humbled, while at the same time, very, very excited! I wanna give a shout-out to my family and close friends who supported me in this endeavor. First and foremost My Wife Karen: My son Michael Phillip, and of course my dear friend Dr. Sylvia Imler & Family. Thank you all, and God Bless!
New for May 2015
Finished: Skewed Perspective: Pastel: 48x39
I decided to shorten the name to “Skewed Perspective” as it seems to roll off my tongue better. We have a Yen and Yang effect here in that one color compliments the other. The blue water encroaches upon the orange horizon as the horizon intrudes upon the rippling water. The green and red act as accent points, or Anchors if you will: in that the green tree fastens the orange to the blue, while the red foot bridge secures the blue to the orange. On a windswept day the traveler just happens to be hiking through the landscape, aware- but certainly not oblivious to her surroundings. Whether she veers left or continues right is for the viewer to decide.
New for August 2014
Sojourn through Skewed Perspective: Pastel: 48x39
Well, Ive started a color piece.
A redo of my original piece Madame Fujiwara Tamie (Also known as Abutsu Ni), she wrote the Izayo Nikki (Diary) in 1277.
“Nun Abutsu is known as a famous poet and essayist who went to the Court to protect the illustrious poetry legacy of the Fujiwara family and her sons’ future. Her husband was Fujiwara Tameie and his father and grandfather were two of the most renowned poets in the late Heian to early Kamakura eras, Fujiwara Teika and Fujiwara Shunzei. After her husband died in 1275, she became a nun, yet she also had the goal to follow her husband’s wishes to make her son, Tamesuke, the legal heir. Her greatest obstacle was her stepson. In order to make an official claim for her son, she had to travel on the Tôkaidô from Kyoto to Kamakura. In Kamakura she wrote the poetic diary, The Waning Moon (Izayoi Nikki) as an account of this trip. It is a major classic from the Kamakura period. Nun Abutsu died while waiting for the court’s decision; twenty years later her son legally became the heir and protector of the Fujiwara poetry manuscripts.”
In the festivals that cerebrate her she’s usually depicted by an actress hiking, sometimes with or without her two sons. I'll be tracing the original drawing onto the board after I've allowed it to thoroughly dry. Once I do that I may go ahead and apply another wash to extend the colors if necessary, but I like how it’s coming out so far. The colors are bright and reflective, unlike the last one in which the house paint base absorbed the colors (won’t do that again). I'll keep you updated as the moment merits. I decided to get back to my roots and render her the way I’ve done with ‘Dancer at Dusk’ and ‘A day in the Life’. Less realistic (to avoid the many logistical problems and the rules that govern them) to the more figurative style that I’m comfortable with. Again intend to exaggerate the size of her hat in keeping with my style. Truth be told, I’m more intrigued with her hat/garment than with actually telling her story.
New for August 2012
Finished: Breanna; Sepia Hard Pastel on Newsprint, 24"x36"
Portrait of my Granddaughter Breanna (Love her round face). She wanted to fix her hair before she posed for me, I told her that I would take care of her hair. Now I re-sprayed the piece with fixative and I'm waiting for that to dry. Moreover, I have to nudge the image to the left a bit to leave room for my signature; then retake the picture. But this is pretty much it. She wore me out- but I take great pride and solace in the fact that I did not trace. You can’t call yourself an artist if you rely on such means.
New for March 2012
Gathered in my Name: Sepia Pastel & Charcoal Pencil: 24x36
I decided to rename the piece to ‘Gathered in my Name’ after much deliberation. It seemed to me that whenever a choir sings unto God it attracts souls. People seem drawn to voices lifted up in praise. The scripture, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me” seems logical to me, especially after deciding to insert a dove (Holy Spirit) aloft just left of the choir- bathed in sunlight.
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Now it didn’t start off as a spiritual piece per se, but my work has a way of taking on meaning as they develop. This explains people coming in from other rooms- drawn by the power of voices lifted in praise. Moreover, I was so busy creating the illusion of endless rooms- I forgot to make reference to other (external) chambers; so that was a no-go. In ‘The Room’ series I will always allude to yet other rooms (visually) that share this plane of existence. Also, I discarded the Soweto Choir in favor of my own figures. Once I sketched out one or two- it seemed pretty easy.
New for February 2012:
House Band: Sepia Hard Pastel on Newsprint: 24"x36"
Well I'm through with this one; hope you like. Once I finished off the railing everything else was easy so of course I stayed up. Just a matter of positioning a few people in the right places. Is she going up to meet with the guy? Or is she descending the staircase. The dancers to the left don’t care about anything at this moment other than the groove. And across the way, in yet another room something else is going on. Art is just as much about asking questions as it is in giving answers. This was done as a gift for my son Michael.
New For December 2011
Adija in Profile: Sepia Hard Pastel on Newsprint: 24"x36" Done at the behest of a friend.
New for November
Finished: Solo & Adija 10th Anniversary: Sepia Hard Pastel on Newsprint: 24"x36"
Recently I've had the pleasure of rendering a piece for a friend. I was hesitant at first because I haven't done a portrait in some time. Secondly, I wanted it to reflect my take on things. I'm so in love with sculpture; particularly works from the Renaissance and the Baroque period. The polished- blank eyes of the subject are such a delight to me. Maybe its rooted in shyness, and my hesitancy to look people in the eye; I'm not sure. Please note, that up until about 2004, I've been rendering faces with the eyes intact; but as my style changes and evolves I'm compelled to follow the inner voice.
I've decided that any-and-all future portraits that I do (unless compelled otherwise) will have the polished eye effect of sculpture. Personally I think it lends a regal- almost spiritual effect to the work. Almost every face I've rendered since 2004 has the eyes intact. But every work since I've started drawing again (after a six year hiatus) is without. I can never fully explain my changes in style but it happens over a period of years. That's why my work changes from time to time in appearance. Presently I'm doing black and white pieces, when before all I did were color.
Every color piece on my gallery page was rendered from 1982 up until 2004; starting with the Refugee. With the exception of the Himba piece; this was finished in 2010. The changes come without warning or reason. I just go with the flow. Each change in style marks my growth as an artist. You're welcomed to view the piece as it progressed from start to finish. Or click on the thumbnail to view the work. I hope you like it.
New for September
Finished: The Jazz Lounge:
Sepia Hard Pastel on Newsprint: 24"x36"
New for August...
Finished: The Headliner: Hard Pastel on Newsprint: 24"x36.
Im very proud of this piece. I took my inspiration from the 2006 film, Idlewild; summed up in the suave Jazz/Blues singer, Angel Davenport. Now as far as the stand-up bass player is concerned, I didn’t want him to just play that bass; I wanted him to own it. Notice how his left hand twists and bends the neck of the instrument to give off the sound of his choosing. This allowed me to highlight the finer aspect of the scroll (top of the bass), which to me is a standup bass’s crowning glory. Just click the image, to view the work as it progressed. Hope you like.
Latest projects
February 5th 2011
New addition to the Gallery!
This is my first effort for 2011... An adolescent Himba Girl, roughed up a bit and rendered faster than the last pieces.
Hope you like...
