I walked into Whole Foods to see what fruits or vegetables were in season for a still life painting and found figs, hard to come by in Boise. On my drive home, I saw a business billboard with the message "#lovewins" in plain view from a busy downtown connector to the freeway. I knew immediately what to paint with those figs.
Look at the reflection in the silver cup and you will see a sort of self portrait. Although I don't consider myself gay (no worries, Rob Richardson), I have many dear friends who do, and for whom I have deeply desired an equal chance to enjoy marriage the way I can. We are all equal as humans--all of us seek love, compassion and shelter. This painting symbolizes a reflection of my deep seeded support of social equality.
I want to turn traditional still life on its head to convey contemporary themes. I hope to first excite the visual senses with a beautifully rendered painting, an homage to the masters of the Dutch Golden Age. Then I want to startle, excite, provoke, or humor the viewer with the content. Whether or not you agree with my stance, I hope we can start a dialogue.