Angry Brothers

Thank you to the two brothers, Mike and Matt, who worked around their very busy schedules to meet with me and let me take their picture. This is an illustration of two brothers who lived in a one-room cabin and had an argument. One drew a chalk line on the floor, and they agreed to stay on their separate sides of the house. They never spoke to each other again after that, until the death of one brother 62 years later! Can you imagine being so idiotic? I'm sure glad Mike and Matt have a great sense of humor to allow me to paint them so angry at each other. They are actually great friends.

The Lincolns Relax at the Theater

Although this is Ford's Theater, I did not paint the president and his wife on a date with disaster--this is just a date, an evening when they could unwind, enjoy the performance, and rest from their cares of being head of state in a country in turmoil. I ache for the president, both then and now, for having to try to solve all the country's, and sometimes the world's, problems, and I think they deserve a break every once in a while.

He's Got The Whole World In His Hands

I was hoping that, despite my limitations, this painting would still convey the hope, the bonding, the strength, and the support these men gained from singing spirituals about their Lord together, despite the desperate and demeaning situation they lived in.

I don't know enough black men to have painted this one by setting up live models. I really don't even know one. So, I had to compile this painting using a campfire and a few people sitting around it from the internet. I checked out books about black people from the internet and connected them to the bodies I had, and added a few more around the campfire, then changed their clothing and lighting to match the scene. It had to be a looser style to accommodate all the changes and imprecise scrap, plus, I wanted to have it a little looser to show the energy of the men singing the spirituals. I didn't feel it was my best work, yet I've received compliments on this piece, some saying that this is a "notch above" my other paintings. Wow, thanks! I was hoping that, despite my limitations, it would still convey the hope, the bonding, the strength, and the support these men gained from singing spirituals about their Lord together, despite the desparate and demeaning situation they lived in.

A Good Dose of Humor

I needed a couple who had been married for years and who shared a lot of jokes together for this painting. I instantly thought of my aunt and uncle. Although they haven't spent their whole lives together, having only found each other about eight years ago, they are the perfect couple, and they are always cheerful, despite all the crazy stuff life throws at them. Plus, they are my biggest fan club. Whenever my paintings come on TV, they cheer and clap! I was very happy to paint them.