"We Will Defend Your Right To Low Quality Processed Foods"

Fresh off the easel is the latest work from my upcoming "We Are Modern" show. I'm pretty excited about this piece, especially because of the size. This sucker measures 72" tall by 30" wide, and is another swell (I think) departure from my usual square format paintings.

I thought it would be an interesting juxtaposition to take the image The Lone Ranger, a tough and iconic gunfighter for justice, and 'sandwich' him between old adverts of cheap grocery products, hence the sarcastic, tonge-in-cheek title.

There's been some interesting innovations in processed foods over the last fifty years or so, and our diets as Americans have been drastically altered. Having more of an understanding where our food comes from and its 'chemical makeup', I thought this painting would make an ironic statement against me (and countless others) wanting to eat actual healthy food.

The food industry certainly isn't going to collapse anytime soon, especially since they are genius in inventing ways to create new foods. To eat healthy is and will forever be a premium to those who can afford it. It's a sad reality, to say the least.

I could go on and on about this painting, but I'll save it for the show.

To the right is a detail shot of the face and some of the text overlapping. As you can see, part of the face has a slight 'over print' look to it. Part of that was a printing mistake, but I look at the flaw as a character trait in what, to me, appears to be a 'shifty business'. Sometimes you can't completely trust and industry man. As for the other side of the coin, I like seeing printed matter have imperfections, overlaps and smudges. It lets you know that a means of perfectly replicating an image still has flaws, and the work was created by human hands.

Color placement for these paintings is key to the look and feel of the new work. I don't block in color with a brush (not usually). I like my trusty brayer to do that for me.

The edges of each piece are also silk screened throughout, giving me a (I think) a unique difference to those other Pop Artists out there.

The work for this show is really coming along great. I'm anxious to see how it all comes together and plays out collectively. I've been putting a lot of blood, sweat and tear into this work, and I think the reaction (feedback and/or potential sales) will determine my next big course of action for me and the studio.

Which reminds me...the grad school application. I believe portfolios are being deliberated beginning this week, so I may be hearing something back really really soon. No matter the outcome, I've got 'Plan B' currently in the works, as well.

Now, off to make more art...