The Railroad

These three woodcuts are the beginning of a series inspired by my relationship with an etching my father gave me while in College, The Omval by Rembrandt van Rijn. I loved it right away (it was the first thing I framed) and loved Rembrandt, but was incredibly intimidated. I mean you don't get any more old-mastery than him, and abundant and overwhelming skill is what I thought you got from the old masters. A few years ago, while researching for a Fullbright, I returned to Rembrandt and the rest of the Dutch Old Masters, and to The Omval after many years. My understanding of him now is more of a very smart BennyHill-character, hiding people having sex in the bushes, dogs pissing and elaborate boob jokes. He's hilarious. I love him.

Enlarge these. See what you find.

The Forest Bridge

The flood begins

trilety

George

Goodwill/youthbuild

So I spent a couple months on this one with several youths involved in a program through Goodwill, entitled "youthbuild". The program works with high school dropouts to get a GED and undergo job training while building habitat for humanity homes. All in all a good program. The figures, modeled by the kids who also helped design and paint the mural, are a little bit bigge rthan life-size.

Acrylic on drywall, 18'x30'

Simon

An afternoon with Simon got this one rolling. I tell you, it is kinda hard to do work involving your son and not have it just ooze sentimental. But I do love my boy.

Guache and graphite on Paper, 60"x42"

Walter

So Walter is a great older guy who comes by the studio and does odd jobs now and then. This is what he and I came up with.

Guache and Graphite, 60"x42"