Chambered Nautilus

Chambered Nautilus 

5"X7"

acrylic on panel

To the Early Spanish in the New World, Killing a Condor Symbolized the Death of the Indians Pagan Gods

California Condor 

5"X7" 

acrylic on panel

Andean Condor

5"X7"

acrylic on panel

Witches Were Never Burned in America

My new painting for Faux Fairy Tales. A show at Gristle Tattoo & Gallery in Williamsburg Brooklyn. This will be my first of (hopefully of many) appearances in New York City.  


I've had this scene in my head for months now. An old witch making her way through the gloom of an autumn forest led by her familiar spirit. 


"Familiars" in folklore were low ranking demons in the constant attention of witches for the purpose of carrying out spells and bewitchments. Familiars usually assumed animal forms such as mice, cats, toads, owls and dogs were the most common. Witches were said to take great care of their familiars. Familiars were sent out to bewitch people and animals into sickness and death. They also protected their witches. It was also said familiars were fed with blood either from a witches finger or an unnatural protuberance or spot on the skin. The existence of WITCHES MARKS were proof of suckling familiars, enough evidence to get a witch hanged. In the Salem trials of 62' a dog was tried and hung as a witch. 


- The Encyclopedia of Witches and Witchcraft 3rd edition, Rosemary Ellen Guiley

"Woodland Witch"

acrylic on panel

11"X14"

 detail

 detail

Ceremony of the Ancients

I've been putting together a new show for PHANTOM HAND these past couple of weeks titled MYTHOLOGY & THE FORGOTTEN GODS a mythology themed show. FACEBOOK event page. It will be up through March.


“Myths were originally created as entertaining stories with a serious purpose. Myths

symbolize human experience and embody the spiritual values of a culture, every society preserves its myths because the beliefs and world-view found in them are crucial to the survival of that culture. Myths usually originate in an ancient oral tradition. Some explain origins, natural phenomena and death; others describe the nature or function of divinities; while still others provide models of virtuous behavior by relating the adventures of heroes or the misfortunes of arrogant humans. Myths often include elements of legend and folklore. They depict humans as an integral part of a larger universe, and they impart a feeling of awe for all that is mysterious and marvelous in life.” –World Mythology Second Edition

This March 23rd, join us at the Temple of the PHANTOM HAND as we make offerings of art and banquet. Let us raise our voices in song and raise our goblets in a toast to the PAGAN DAYS. Let the FORGOTTEN GODS, HEROES AND DEMONS of old MYTHOLOGY be remembered and celebrated so that they may favor us once more.

SHOW INFO

PHANTOM HAND

604 SOUTH STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19145

OPENING RECEPTION MARCH 23RD 6PM-10PM

 "Dog of Zues" detail 

promo card front

promo card back

A Walk on the Bottom of the Sea

"Heavy Diving Helmet"

8"X10"

acrylic on panel

Egyptian Galleys to Clipper Ships

I took a trip down to the Independence Seaport Museum a few weeks ago. I have been living in this city almost ten years now and must be the only museum I had not yet visited!! It is located on Penn's Landing. www.phillyseaport.org 

The Museum also cares for the retired Spanish-American war era Cruiser Olympia and the WWII submarine Bacuna. The museum also houses Workshop on the Water a wooden boat building workshop dedicated to the skills and traditions of wooden boat building and sailing in the Delaware Valley and New Jersey Shore. 

tug

So many good custom ship models. Many were made and donated by Philadelphia residents over the years. Apparently there is also a ship building club in the city somewhere. 


Pictured below is a huge diorama of a typical shipbuilding yard in the age of wooden ships. It was also interesting to learn about what an important shipbuilding center Philadelphia was for many years up until the end of WWII. The USS Indianapolis was built here, a ship mostly known for its tragic sinking and loss of crew by shark attack. There also was a major immigration port located at what is now the end of Washington Ave and Delaware Ave. Many immigrants were held there, tested for disease and loaded into rail cars for their final destinations. Many luxury cruise liners also departed and arrived here to and from Europe. Nowadays massive tankers and their tugboat escorts are the most common site on the Delaware River. 

 tanker

 Heavy Dive Helmet

Workshop on the Water

They were building a reproduction of a whaling boat which is going to be sent up to Connecticut after completion. This smaller boat would hold seven men including the harpooneer to give chase after a whale was spotted. Everyone would row and one man would steer from the back. A whale hunt must have been an exciting and terrible event to see. 

 US Navy Recruiting Poster

The artist would leave the bottom blank so any recruiting station address could be printed there. In this case 1310 ARCH STREET or around third and Arch is where you could enlist during WWII.

PAST TO PRESENT THE ART OF TATTOO

This was something they had in there coinciding with the Philadelphia Tattoo Convention which was taking place that weekend. Lots of old school sailor flash and a gallery of newer artwork from tattoo artists from around the city. Its pretty hard to beat that old stuff though. Their was even some explanation of why sailors received certain tattoos. A common one you see around is the swallow (bird) tattoo on peoples chests or necks. Sailors would receive a swallow tattoo after sailing 5,000 miles, they would receive their second one after another 5,000. Go into any South Philly dive bar and  you will see a lot of unearned swallow tattoos. 

"An I don't care if its North or South,

The trades or the China Sea,

Shortened down or everything set -

Close-Hauled or running free -

You paint me a ship as is like a ship . . .

An' that'll do for me."

                                      -C. Fox Smith

THORNTON OAKLEY (1881-1953) OAKLEY was a Pittsburgh native He studied architecture at UPENN before training as an illustrator under HOWARD PYLE. His Illustrations reflect the dark industrial landscape of the steam era. Very nice to see one in person.

Gettin Sentimental

untitled

9"X17"

acrylic on wooden hearts

This year I was invited to participate in Jinxed Philly's fifth annual Heart Show. Definitely the biggest Valentines day art show in the city, and pretty much a tradition at this point. Also the first time in about five years I will have art at Jinxed. Special shout out to Mikey Supermodel for the invite. There should be close to fifty hearts there, all priced under or around a hundred dollars. 

JINXED

Since I was already in a Mammoth painting mind frame from the last painting I just kept the groove goin into this. I really liked the idea of two Mammoths greeting each other. I never have done a painting where the main subjects are making physical contact. Can you guess which one is the fella? 

This was a nice change cause I really never do anything pleasant, most of my paintings are pretty depressing to tell you the truth. I could have easily went the other way on this, which I know some people in the show are gonna. The "everybody I have ever loved grabbed my heart and tore it out route." Is Valentines Day a bummer every year? Fuck Yeah, but I keep it moving on. Time Forgets. I would never want my paintings to reflect any type of hatred. I am very lucky. There's people out there with nobody thats really all alone, and one thing I can say is I am never alone. I have a family who supports me and friends who have my back whenever I need them and thats love right there. 

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY 

Elmwood Park Zoo

I took a little drawing field trip with my friend Antonia today to the Elmwood Park Zoo in Norristown, PA. I had only been there once before with work to do some renovations on their pony track, so I really have never had a good chance to look around. 

We had the entire place to ourselves, there was not one other visitor! I had a real good chance to chill out, relax and draw. All the animals were out and very interested in what I was doing. As you can see with this female Bighorn Sheep below. 

Elmwood Park is home to many of my favorite N American animals such as Wolves, Bighorn Sheep, Elk, Bison, Eagles, Hawks, Foxes, Antelope and Mountain Lions. I wish I had taken more pictures but I was too excited to draw these guys.

stare down

I had never been this close to an elk before, they are so massive up close. There were three females and one bull. I was praying he would bugle but no such luck. I had met a really nice zoo keeper, and I got to talk with her about one of my favorite subjects (antlers) for nearly a half hour! 

I met an old medicine man that lived in this teepee, he sang the old songs of his peoples and transported me to the animal spirit world. I may have been in there for days. 

 big bull bison

Prong Horn Antelope. N Americas fastest land animal. You couldn't tell though all this dude wanted to do was sit down.