Art Gallery

A Beacon of the Middle Keys

admin — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 22:11:35 GMT

Acrylic 18 x 24

When a tropical artist is asked to paint lighthouses, you look for something out of the norm. This is the welcome wagon I receive after almost every lobster dive. It's just some "Marathon Madness".

A Palm and a Vow

admin — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 21:39:32 GMT

Acrylic 16 x 20

This distinguished looking palm played its part one day when it played host to a very special ceremony. Its job was to create the canopy by which two destined hearts were to be forever joined under.

I was asked by a close friend of both mine and theirs if I would recreate that special tree as an anniversary gift. This is what came out of my "sentimental mind's eye".

Bird's Eye View

admin — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 23:02:30 GMT

Acrylic 12 x 16

Christ of the Deep

Sat, 23 Dec 2006 23:20:20 GMT

Acrylic 24 x 36

The ocean has always held an almost religious quality to me. It has immense power, yet can instill tranquility like nothing else; it heals and gives life, yet takes it away just the same. This statue rests just off the coast of Key Largo in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. I've chosen to portray it bathed in light to give it a higher sense of awe. However, its beauty and purpose were best described during the dedication. "He will descend in the green silent depth of the sea and remain there to protect the living. The dead shall no longer be lonely. His carpet will be of soft algae; His naves and columns will be the pillars of the earth sunk in the great cerulean depths. Ships and phantoms of ships will crowd around Him; living men and dead men. The shadows of all those who lost their lives in the sea will be present without discrimination of nationality, blood, or color. With His liberal gesture of all who lived for sea, and who, in the same sea they so dearly loved, found eternal peace." * Dedication courtesy of John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

Guardian of a Forgotten World I

Sat, 23 Dec 2006 23:20:20 GMT

Acrylic 36 x 24

In 1994, on one of my many trips to Mexico and it's ruins, I made a very strong connection that I had never made before. My wife and I toured the ruins of Tulum, the only coastel settlement of the Mayan Civilization, for only the second time in 10 years. In that time, much had changed. Capitalism invaded. I got the feeling that we weren't the only ones to notice. Large iguanas, some measuring 10 feet nose to tail, were in more abundance than I ever remembered. On our way home we discussed interesting possibilities and theories as to why this might have been. All we could "reasonably" figure was that the Mayan spirits were guarding all they had left through these reptilian warriors.

This theory inspired a whole series of works spanning 3-4 years. Maybe we were right, or maybe it was the free Corona. I like to think we were right.

Guardian of a Forgotten World II

admin — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 20:40:29 GMT

Guardian of a Forgotten World III

admin — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 20:42:52 GMT

Key West Lighthouse

admin — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 22:14:59 GMT

Acrylic 24 x 36

I've always admired the works of the "Key West Watercolorists" as I call them. They capture a sense of light in their works that no other medium allows you to do, with subject matter second to none.

Not being a watercolorist myself, I do, however, water down my paints for similar effects. That's as far as it goes. This piece is a tribute to them and their art (with a bit of me thrown in)!

Paradise Found

admin — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 22:39:13 GMT

Acrylic 11 x 14

Peaceful Moments

admin — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 22:43:14 GMT

Acrylic 24 x 18

Search for Truth

admin — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 22:34:15 GMT

Acrylic 18 x 24

You never know when inspiration will strike. I have always been a fan of the singer, Sting not only due to all of his ocean environmental work, but also because his style of singing can easily transport you. The song Message In The Bottle hit me one day as a great painting possibility. Combined with one of my favorite quotes - the rest is history.

"We all have our dreams without them we should be clods. It is in our dreams that we accomplish the impossible; the rich man dumps his load of responsibility and lives in a log shack on a mountaintop, the poor man becomes rich, the stay-at-home travels, the wanderer finds an abiding place."

-Ralph Stock

The Eye of the Everglades

admin — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 22:01:34 GMT

Acrylic 40 x 30

The "Eye Series" are very different for me. Typically depicting our environment as a "colorful playground", I steer away from making a political statement unless I absolutely have to. In this case, I had to.

Meant to be viewed from both far and near, each tells it's own story. From a distance, they simply appear as stately portraits executed with some detail in brushstroke and paint application. It isn't until one comes closer that the reality sets in. Not only do the eyes hold a painful reflection of what their worlds have become, but the brushstrokes have changed as well. A painting that appears to have an organized beauty from a distance, is actually haphazard and a bit of a mess, much like our ecosystems.

It's painful to think about how they must feel.

(See also matching pieces "Eye of the Ocean", "Eye of the Keys", and "Eye of the Waterways") The Sandhill Crane reflects a sugar factory
The Key Deer reflects headlights on the highway
The Dolphin reflects other dolphin in a tuna net
The Manatee reflects a speeding boats propeller

NOTE: "Eye of the Waterways" and "Eye of the Keys" were created almost 8 years after the first two. Originally intended to be a series of four; time and circumstances finally brought them all together.

The Eye of the Keys

admin — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 21:45:19 GMT

Acrylic 40 x 30

The "Eye Series" are very different for me. Typically depicting our environment as a "colorful playground", I steer away from making a political statement unless I absolutely have to. In this case, I had to.

Meant to be viewed from both far and near, each tells it's own story. From a distance, they simply appear as stately portraits executed with some detail in brushstroke and paint application. It isn't until one comes closer that the reality sets in. Not only do the eyes hold a painful reflection of what their worlds have become, but the brushstrokes have changed as well. A painting that appears to have an organized beauty from a distance, is actually haphazard and a bit of a mess, much like our ecosystems.

It's painful to think about how they must feel. (See also matching pieces "Eye of the Ocean", "Eye of the Everglades", and "Eye of the Waterways")

NOTE: "Eye of the Waterways" and "Eye of the Keys" were created almost 8 years after the first two. Originally intended to be a series of four; time and circumstances finally brought them all together.

The Mail Did Not Arrive

admin — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 22:20:13 GMT

Acrylic 40 x 30

I've always been captivated by Florida's history. It is very intriguing, if not downright colorful. One such story involves the famous Barefoot Mailman - James E. Hamilton in particular.

From 1886 to approximately 1893 the Barefoot Mailmen insured the delivery of mail from Jupiter Inlet to Miami - a stretch of land only accessible by beach. These men averaged thirty miles a day, making a full trip every six days. They fed off of the land from turtle eggs and fish to rainwater and coconut milk. Delivering in scorching sun, high winds, rain, and even hurricanes. The mail always got through. Except for one day.

On October 11, 1887, feeling ill the night before, James Hamilton, 32, left the Orange Grove House of Refuge (now Delray Beach) bound for Miami. Arriving at Hillsboro Inlet, he noticed that his skiff had been moved to the other side. Intending to retrieve the boat, he left his mailbag and clothes on the shore. He never made it to the other side, nor was he ever seen again. A plaque honoring Hamilton now sits on this spot at the base of the Hillsboro Lighthouse in Pompano Beach.

No one quite knows what happened that day. Was the current too strong? Were alligators responsible? We may never know, but one things remains. Stop and look at footprints in the sand. One can still feel the presence of the Barefoot Mailmen making their trek down that lonely stretch of beach they we, as Floridians call home.

*My thanks to the Deerfield Beach Historical Society for their cooperation.

The Shores of St Martin

admin — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 22:45:56 GMT

Mixed Media 17 x 11

Tondo of the Tropics I

admin — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 22:26:59 GMT

Acrylic 11 x 14

Tondos were small vignette paintings popular during the Renaissance. Having obtained my minor in Art History always gave me a great escape to other times and worlds.

This Tondo was the first tropical piece I ever produced (scary what's happened from there)! It depicted one of my favorite dive spots on one of my favorite islands; Hawksnest Bay, St John USVI. The Parrot? A tribute to Jimmy and all the joy his music has brought me over the years. Parrot heads forever!

Triptych of the Tropics

admin — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:41:07 GMT

Triptych of the Tropics
18x102
2010

Done as 3 separate pieces that can work together or as each separate. A third alternative is pairing. The top and middle can be viewed as a pair; likewise, the middle and bottom can be viewed as a pair.

Triptych of the Tropics (pair 1)

admin — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:42:47 GMT

Top and middle pieces paired; bottom left out.

Triptych of the Tropics (pair 2)

admin — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:43:48 GMT

Middle and Bottom pieces paired; top has been left out.

Triptych of the Tropics (piece 1)

admin — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:45:21 GMT

Top panel
18x34

Triptych of the Tropics (piece 2)

admin — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:46:46 GMT

Middle panel
18x34

Triptych of the Tropics (piece 3)

admin — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:49:02 GMT

Bottom panel
18x34