Art

There is an intrinsic value in the human soul – this is the creative spirit. We connect to this spirit through creative thought and expression. This ability is in every human being and is used to solve problems, comprehend our connection to the human race, illuminate the unknown or for creative enjoyment.

As an artist I don't lend myself to the use of one certain medium. Self–exploration through the mediums and materials used is an essential part of the process in creating a piece of work. Having the capability to draw, paint, sculpt and print are the fundamental elements in the process of creating art. Allowing the materials to speak for the work of art is just as important as the image and feeling the viewer interprets in the final product.

There is no certain direction that I follow when creating art, at most, I try and let the knowledge of each piece speak for itself and hopefully lead me in new directions. There is constant change in life and my art relates directly to this statement, constantly evolving and transforming but leaving a lasting impression of a certain time in my life. Being able to capture these moments is essential for the process of reflection and creation of the new. For in modern art there are no boundaries, only limitations set by ourselves.

Painting

  • Their is an Undisclosed Location
    Their is an Undisclosed Location

    pastel and acrylic on shipping crate

    Through a loose interpretation of Bart Jordan's description of the meander symbol a narrative image is composed. A balance of night and day, sky and water is transposed ironically on a shipping crate to portray an unknown destination.

  • Hand Eye Coordination
    Hand Eye Coordination

    oil on board

    A quick study of the hand and eye.

  • Icarus
    Icarus

    oil on canvas

    Most everyone is familiar with the story of Icarus. This moral tale of adolescence is something most of us can relate.

    Through symbols and imagery one can interpret the piece in many different aspects.

    The emergence of a monkey's fist, a knot used for heaving line, symbolizes the outreach for help – which can sometimes be too little too late.

  • Toubled Waters
    Troubled Waters

    oil on canvas

    Cycles play a big part in our lives and this is the primary inspiration for this piece. Through shape, form, texture and color the surrealistic qualities create a continual motion that emphasizes some of these cycles.

    Through cherub like qualities our young project a stingingly honest insight into life's most delicate cycle – life & death.

    Being able to reflect into the larger aspect of how we interact with some of these cycles is important. We can begin to understand that we have more control over many aspects of our lives.

    As a social responsibility we should make conscious efforts to control our impact, which in turn, improves the cycles.

  • Toubled Waters
    Childish Dreams

    acrylic on panel

    “Reading, writing and arithmetic taught to the tune of a hickory stick…” It is no secret that the value of the arts in our educational system is very overlooked.

    By neglecting the cultural benefit of this intrinsic ability, it only creates a disfragmented understanding of who we are and where we come from.

Mixed Media

  • Anatomy of a Wave
    Anatomy of a Wave

    mixed medium

    Storms, wind, clouds, tides, these cycles play a major part in wave production. These elements are vital to surf and the disection of these parts equals a whole.

    The beautiful line-up. Clear, clean, hollow waves seen in a panoramic fashion to showcase all the aspects of a wave as it peels from peak to beach.

  • Pica Pica
    Pica

    mixed medium

    Pica is an eating disorder which derives its name from a genus of the Magpie, a bird known to consume just about anything. The bird is a symbol of humanity as a whole and our tie to earth — this is represented by the birds right leg inside the glass globe. The glass globe in turn portrays the fragile nature of our planet.

    A match stick branch holds a nest of hair cupping chalk, soil and paper — all items associated with the eating disorder. The branch is extending out from the flat, white, clean saucer.

  • Seed
    Seed

    mixed medium

    We all have questions of where we come from at one time or another, this piece revolves around this thought. The balance between chaos and order, science and religion, above and below… is a common representation in this piece.

    The boy is a varnished cut out of an intaglio print.

  • Jupiter and the Bumblebee
    Jupiter and the Bumblebee

    mixed medium

    The Greek tale for which this piece is named after is a moral for “be careful what you wish for, it may just come true.” The god Jupiter is represented as the sideways five — for the fifth planet.

    The gold encased bee represents the honey taken to Jupiter as a bribe. Jupiter detests the Queen Bee's request but uses his cunning to avert the damage.

  • Decoy
    Decoy

    mixed medium

    The bird is the initial pastel sketch used for Icarus. Unlike many of my finished pieces, this one captures the raw aspects which occur at the beginning stages in my process.

    The solemn bird is the only rendered aspect of this piece making it the focal point within the chaotic background.

  • Huida
    Huida

    mixed medium

    This piece is another that was left in the raw unfinished state giving the overall feel a darker more questionable tone.

    Huida is the Spanish word for escape, or to take flight. It references the need to escape from ourselves from time to time.

Illustration

  • Black Tie and Baggies
    Black Tie and Baggies Illustration

    watercolor, pencil

    As part of the local surf community I was asked to help with an illustration to promote the First Coast Surfrider Foundation's annual fundraising event. This watercolor illustration of a woody and surf was used in the poster and promotional material.

    The final poster design was completed by Andrew Foster.

  • Antiquated Voyage Thumbnail
    Antiquated Voyage

    colored pencil

    This piece was commissioned by The UWF Archaeology Institute to headline a show that showcased artifacts and art revolving around the trade between Pensacola, FL and Vercruz, Mexico in the 1500's. The show traveled to various cities in Mexico and was a feature in the Florida State Capital. The piece has also been used for the State Archaeology poster, Cover of UWF Alumni Magazine and was featured in the Florida Trend magazine.

  • American Red Cross Illustration
    ARC Illustration

    vector illustration

    This illustration was part of a pro-bono project for the Jacksonville Beach American Red Cross Lifeguards. The piece was used in a poster, brochure and flier used to promote a fundraiser for the organization.

  • The Fox and The Peacock
    The Fox and The Peacock

    design, illustrations, story

    On a dark cloudy winters night a sly fox stalks silently among the trees in search for food. Along the bank of a shallow stream the fox approaches a magnificent cypress tree and spots an elegant peacock perched for his nightly roost.

    The fox's stomach growls in pain for the sweet taste of this beautiful creature. Over the rumbling in his stomach the hungry fox calls out, “what a beautiful sight to see on such a lovely night.”

    This awakens the slumbering bird in it's roost. “Why, thank you,” coos the peacock. “But it is so hard to see your true beauty with it being so dark and you perched so high in the tree” mused the fox. “I wish to only get a closer look at your true elegance.”

    So the peacock hopped down a branch and spread his tail feathers for the fox to see. “How is this? Can you see how lovely I am now?”

    “Oh, that is much better, but it still does not do such a majestic bird justice to be perched so high in a tree,” the fox stated. “Why don't you hop down to the ground the next time the moon comes out so I can take in your true beauty.”

    The peacock, being so caught up in the foxes compliments, waited for the moon to peer out from behind the clouds. As the moon slowly crept out, the peacock hopped down from it's perch and spread his feathers for the fox to see.

    Before the peacock had a chance to say a word, the fox pounced and grabbed the graceful bird by it's neck. With his last breath the peacock lamented, “I was so caught up in my own vanity that I couldn't see the true nature of the compliments given to me.”

Mural

  • Cherry Blossom Mural
    Cherry Blossom Mural

    acrylic and cloth

    The Cherry Blossom Mural was a commission for a custom painting in a baby girl's room. The overall concept needed to be organic and sweet but not too childish so it can be continually used as a focal point in the room as the young lady grows up.

    Hand sewn fabric cherry blossoms were added to the final piece to give dimension, texture and add an interactive aspect for the child as she grows older.

    As a final interactive piece a handmade bird of felt, lace and feathers was added perched high on a branch overlooking the crib.

  • Surfari Charters Mural
    Surfari Charters Mural

    acrylic on concrete

    The Surfari Charters mural project was commissioned for their bar bench and is located in Guasacate (Playa Popoyo), Nicaragua. The focal point for this piece is a large marlin exploding into the space from the left half of the bench and eying up on a bridle rigged bonito.

    Lance, the owner of Surfari Charters, kept referring to the marlin as “Bob Marlin” so we felt it appropriate that he be chasing a rastafarian rigged bonito complete with dreads.

    Leading in front of the marlin is a school of frightened dolphin, ballyhoo and baitball adding to the frenzy.

    Detail of the dolphin and ballyhoo. These fish, along with the others, were completed in stages and required multiple paint layers to create depth and texture.

    Leading further to the right in the space is a pair of wahoo chasing down more ballyhoo. This wahoo was painted in full profile to show speed and the aggressive stripes this fish naturally portrays.

    As the bench bends around to the right a second wahoo has closed in on his catch and is in the process of securing his next meal while other ballyhoo try to escape the madness.

  • Bait Ball Bar
    Bait Ball Bar

    acrylic on concrete

    The Bait Ball Bar is a mural project commissioned by The Surf Sanctuary at Playa Santana, Nicaragua. The curved wall is located at the end of a swim–up bar of their pool.

    Detail of the bait ball and bull dolphin. The entire project was completed in a one week time span.

    The sailfish flashing on the backside of the bait ball.

    The large marlin chasing chicken dolphin is located on the right side of the space when facing the pool pushing the movement towards the bait ball.

    A school of tuna is pushing in on the left side of the space towards the bait ball creating a fedding frenzy in the Bait Ball Bar.

  • Hawkshaw Exibit
    Hawkshaw – A Span of Time

    mixed medium

    This large scale piece was commissioned through the University of West Florida Archaeological Institute for The Gulf Power Company corporate headquarters. At 25' in length, this was my largest piece to date. The 3 mile bridge from Gulf Breeze to Pensacola is used as a metaphorical timeline to showcase over 2000 years of artifacts from the varied inhabitants of this piece of land.

    Before building on this site, The Gulf Power Company worked with archaeologists from UWF to uncover what Dr. Judy Bense stated is “a dream site.”

    The Gray House, as it was named, was one of many buildings that inhabited this bluff overlooking Pensacola Bay. Other artifacts include a fully intact light bulb and paper records from some of the more recent residents.

    Traversing back in time, some of the other items found on the site were toys such as a jack and pieces of porcelain dolls. The map at top is a copy of downtown Pensacola during the Colonial period and shows many of the structures that were adjacent to the Hawkshaw site.

    Pieces of pottery, plates and fine china were found in the refuse piles giving the archaeologists a better understanding of the daily lives from the varying inhabitants.

    The first inhabitants of this site lived here over 2000 years ago and left behind shell tools as well as pieces of broken pots giving a glimpse into a culture long past.