Oil & Water (2010)

Step into my world and discover the story behind my latest series, Oil & Water. It all began with a cathartic act of repainting an unsuccessful canvas that had long been stored in my parents' guest room, reminding me of my failure to manage time wisely during college. On one fateful visit to my parents farm, the British Petroleum disaster in the Gulf had just begun, and I found myself following the story closely in the news. The next day, my old canvas got a new base coat of blue spray paint and some acrylic touch-ups, becoming the first piece of my Oil & Water series. This powerful image depicts a rescue boat, floating barriers, and the fire and smoke generated by the BP blowout. From there, the series evolved into mostly black and white ink works, each infused with various flavors of oil politics, environmentalism, and pop humor. As I delved deeper into the subject matter and planned each piece meticulously, the series became both demanding and therapeutic, revealing new layers of meaning and expression with each stroke of the pen. Through Oil & Water, I invite you to explore the complex relationship between humanity and the environment and to consider the impact of our actions on the world around us.

This series was both demanding and therapeutic, on so many layers.

View a small sample of the work HERE