I love the challenge of human portraits and figures. There are a few images from the natural world that intrigue me right now: the pycnopodia helianthoides or sunflower sea star, the archaeopteryx lithographica, and a trio of salmon swimming upstream. All of these creatures are either endangered or extinct, which is a source of inspiration for me.
“Ghost Kelp”
This big red sea star is a pycnopodia. Most of the species has been wiped out by a wasting disease. They were the only remaining predator of the purple urchin, which have devoured the kelp forests. Here, I restore the pycnopodia and place it in pursuit of its prey.
“Life After Extinction”
This is another image that’s captured my imagination right now. The archaeopteryx lithographica was a turkey-sized bird dinosaur that went extinct about 150 million years ago. It had wings, a beak, and teeth! In this pastel drawing, I surrounded it with monarch butterflies to illustrate the idea of life after extinction: the archaeopteryx is gone, but the chicken lives on. And monarchs may survive, but their days of migrating might be over. Here in the Sixth Extinction or the Anthropocene or whatever we’ve decided to call it, it’s worth remembering that life, in its infinite weirdness, will continue in one form or another.
“Three Kings”
It’s hard not to be fascinated by salmon. They have it all, from the hero’s journey to the noble death, the sacrifice, and the regeneration. I’ve put them here in a sun that’s either rising or setting behind a man-made structure against a backdrop of fire. Will they survive what we’ve done? Will we?
“Into an Uncertain Future”
Growing up in San Francisco, waiting for the BART was an everyday adventure. The tunnel was full of possibilities, but you definitely didn’t want to go in there. Fire on the tracks, a mother’s strength…there’s a reason to say some things with images rather than words.
“Family Friend”
This is a portrait of a character I included in a novel I still haven’t had the nerve to show anyone. The painting is from a black-and-white photo by a court photographer in the 1970s.
“Almost There”
From a photo of my mother shortly before her death. Her granddaughter and daughters were with her.
“Tea Time”
We need more pictures of naked middle-aged women, enjoying simple pleasures like a hot cup of tea and a good book! This is the first painting I ever sold, and it happened on my 48th birthday.
“Big Red & the Little Wolf”
Something about the curve of this figure’s spine made me think of the words, ‘apex predator.’ We tend to regard ourselves as soft and vulnerable, but the other figure (who doesn’t have a shadow) is the 06 Yellowstone wolf, a brilliant charismatic animal who was shot for no particular reason. Here, she exits the frame under the gaze of one of the most dangerous animals on the planet.
“Come Hither Fuck Off”
Do I really need to say more?