From the Bitter Pill Series
40x64 | Oil on Canvas | SOLD
The cathartic success of the first “party“ piece encouraged a continuation of the series. My niece was still isolated from our family by her scorned father and there had been no contact with her for well over year. The pill here represents anyone’s unpleasant truth they must except but also strongly represents manipulation and it’s grim results.
From the Bitter Pill Series
36x36 | Oil on Canvas | SOLD
A friend with a 15 month old boy said he was completely mesmerized with all the pharma ads that were on TV 24 hours a day. He didn’t pay much attention to children’s programming, but was transfixed with many of the ads not only for Nasonex, but Cialis, Lunesta and more. This old Lifesavers ad was a clear winner for a Bitter Pill manipulation.
From the Bitter Pill Series
24x24 | Plaster, Enamel & Oil on Canvas | SOLD
This ad was on an old apple crate where the rosy cheek boy smiled gleefully as he hocked his delicious apple: “Produce of USA“ proudly displayed at the bottom of the label, assuring post-war consumers that their product was supporting the home team. After the presidential election of 2004 I wandered around in a state of shock for several months as did so many others, but this piece was just another Bitter Pill I was forced to swallow: the boy clearly forcing a smile “A Product of USA“
From the Bitter Pill Series
Bitter Pill Party 705 | 48x60 | Sold
This was originally an ad for a cake mix in the 1950s. I knew the moment I saw it, the cake would need to be replaced with my Bitter Pills. As each child consumed their pill, their faces whirled away. This piece is where the series stopped being such a literal catharsis for my own stories and became a metaphor for everyone who must swallow this pill at sometime in their life. It could also represent the overmedication of not only today’s children, but adults where the drug companies rule and doctors happily prescribe a pill for every possible tick, resulting in a medicated society where people go through life in a doctor approved altered state.
From the Fresh Hell Series
24x24 | Plaster & Enamel on Canvas | $300
This piece was created when I received news that my sister was getting divorced and was going to be moving to a remote location in Oklahoma and that her soon-to-be ex-husband – who had custody of my beloved niece – was turning her against our family. The western font represents not only the ex-husband but my sister’s future on a decidedly rural and isolated ranch. The “old gold” cigarette add underneath symbolized a slow painful death through a daily dose of poison in a life without my niece.
From the Fresh Hell Series
30x30 | Plaster, Enamel & Oil on Canvas | SOLD
This piece was originally going to be just a glimpse of a happy man enjoying his afternoon in the sun with the woman bringing out cool refreshments, but the thick layers of Fresh Hell took over the scene. As I was finishing it, the woman being so invisible didn’t feel complete to me, so I elected to have her almost emerging through the layers: a way to empower her and give her a presence. The paint is layered with plaster and sanded down to expose the history: the situation is not something shiny and new, it has age and layers.
From the Fresh Hell Series
24x24 | Plaster, Enamel & Oil on Canvas | $600
As the events in my life continued on a shocking downward spiral, there were moments of great comfort brought in by friends giving me support. As soon as I thought I was out of the woods, some other monumental tragedy would befall us, opening the wound and revitalizing Fresh Hell. This piece represents a moment of peace and then like a Band-Aid being ripped off, Fresh Hell is back and stronger than ever.
From the Fresh Hell Series
24x30 | Plaster, Enamel & Oil on Canvas | SOLD
This piece was created as a tribute to my husband‘s best friend who died suddenly in the midst of our Hell. It represents friendship and camaraderie but the carrot at the end of the stick is ironically, Fresh Hell. The pasted add affect includes the plywood backing as someone has tried to rip away at it without much success.
From the Fresh Hell Series
30X40 | Oil on Canvas | SOLD
Just when I thought the personal tragedies might have been behind us, another brilliant friend died unexpectedly. Stacy was an artist and photographer on the brink of great success. She traveled to Puerto Rico to be with a man who had been hotly pursuing her for over 10 years after a friendship in New York many years before. After she returned, the pillar of strength she had always been crumbled. The distortion of his face was something that came to me as an epiphany: he was a mystery to me, but somehow was a catalyst for Stacy’s demise. There was simply no other way to represent him.
From the Beginning of the Beginning Series
36X36 | Oil on Canvas | $1000
When I stumbled upon this informal photo of these ladies kicking it up for the camera, their joie de vivre was almost infectious. The red fabric in this series represents life, so perhaps although our dancers may be beyond it, they could still get together for their encore.
From the Beginning of the Beginning Series
36x48 | Oil on Canvas | SOLD
When Harold Camping predicted the end of the world on May 21, 2011 many people didn’t take it seriously. Anthony Thompson didn’t either, but that didn’t stop him from celebrating the next day by jumping into the Kalamazoo River with his friends. A photographer from the Associated Press happen to be there to document what would be Anthony’s final leap, for just after this photo was taken, he was swept up in the current and drowned. A stirring image depicted here in the moment just before death: a leap of faith.
From the Beginning of the Beginning Series
36x36 | Oil on Canvas | $1000
An atheist once told me they believe that when you die that there was nothing beyond this life – it is simply the end. He believed that our loved ones live on through the love and memories of those left behind. I also believe that love is immortal.
From the Beginning of the Beginning Series
36x48 | Oil on Canvas | $1200
Sometimes we are just ready to go. Whether we be 100 years old and in poor health or 18 and restless, moving to the next level is something we are ready to do head first.
From the Beginning of the Beginning Series
36x36 | Oil on Canvas | SOLD
Life can sometimes be held on by a tiny thread. Whether it is by or will or by artificial means, letting go might not always be our choice.
From the Beginning of the Beginning Series
30x40 | Oil on Canvas | SOLD
Simply put, the will to survive maybe our ultimate show of strength. Regardless of our physical condition, the power of the mind may dictate more than we give it credit for.
