"Knucklebones I" & "Knucklebones II"

Knucklebones was an ancient game played with animal bones. This very detailed painting was lost in a collectors house fire. I was commissioned to replicate the original. Thinking about painting the same image twice reminds me of a great show of Al Held's at Emerich gallery circa 1978: Al painted two identical geometric abstracts. One was a mirror image. The paintings were hung on oposite walls and the effect was magic.

There are a few differences between Knucklebones I and II. Remember "Highlights for Children" ?

"Soldiers And Sailors Monument"

The monument honoring the four branches of the Union Army as seen through a Gothic arch window of the old Society Bank building. The Civil War memorial on Cleveland's public square was built in 1894. How different Maya Lin's memorial to the Vietnam Veterans is. They both contain long lists of dead warriors. Where are the lists of the dead civilians?

"Bouquet"

Lilies of the valley must have the most intoxicating scent. Red wine gives me a headache.

"Wedding Party"

The arrival of an important guest and a present wrapped in white explain the title. The cherry blossoms indicate the time of year. I can't find the bride and groom.

"Stop It Herculese"

A favorite theme is Herculese escaping from a fight with the Lion.

" I Can't Tell A Lie"

Tax time makes us think of wanting to save money.

Our economic stimulus checks haven't arrived.

Maraschino cherries have artificial color and no pits but the fancy ones have stems.

"Nocturne" I Like Georges de La Tour

Here's the old man in a completely staged composition. Sue Berry gave me the odd Disneyesque candle stick. The owl sculpture was bought at Einstien's Attic my favorite junk store in Kent. The moth was found dead one morning inside my back screen door.

"Slave Labor In China"

Trompe L'Oeil means fool the eye. Viewed from a distance this scene is intended to seem real.

The baseball cap and toys in this painting have "Made In China" tags on them. This painting was painted during the 1995 World Series playoffs. Native American Indian groups are still protesting the use of "Chief Wahoo" as a logo for the Cleveland Indians. Has there ever been slave labor in China? Can we compare U.S./Native America to China/Tibet. This painting was included included in West Publishing Corporation's Art & The Law 21st. National Touring Exhibition, and is in their collection in Eagan, MN.

Beachcombing, Water Water Everywhere

While painting this water scene, plein air on an old pier, a juvenile swimmer canonballed a huge splash onto the canvas and me. Thank God water and oil don't mix. The bird, a "common snipe" was painted in the studio.

In The Valley of God's Pleasure, The Lower Shaker Lake

I painted this in my studio at the Windermere storage building in East Cleveland. I used a plein air on panel painting and hired a life drawing model. The Shakers called their settlement "The Valley of God's Pleasure."

Captain Jack's Wharf, P Town