My art is very eclectic. I paint only what interest me. Like Davinci, I am intrigued with the concept of “ugly” some people think Bulldogs are ugly but I find their faces fascinating. I guest that stems from living in the belly of the beast and seeing, while homeless, the most diabolical and the sublime. I gravitate to artist that have honed and polished their skill as academic painters before pursuing abstraction.
I think my evolution as a artist and author flourished more on the now bulldozed Maxwell street open-air marketplace than from getting my degree in 1994 from the School of The Art Institute Of Chicago. Why? Maxwell street was once the home of the “Electrified Blues” –Chicago’s artistic gift to the world. Where creative geniuses like Muddy waters, Howlin’ wolf, Baby Face Leroy, Little Walter,Buddy Guy, and Junior Wells influenced English rock Groups like the Rolling Stones, Cream, and Led Zeppelin, who all tried to pluck notes created by Maxwell streets bluesmen .There is a chapter in my book about the impact of Chicago blues on world culture.
I am deeply honored that in 2001 I was part of a landmark photo in the free-Chicago weekly The Reader “Great Day on Maxwell”, in which blues legends gathered for a historic photo.
Sports, music and portraits has been the main impulse for most of my paintings.All three genres require discipline, focus and talent to touch the human soul. The Baroque artist Caravaggio is one of my favorites because early in his career he would showcase his still-life’s on the streets of Rome –like Caravaggio —blues artist, athletes and musicians have honed their craft in academia and the streets.
