Having grown up in Oklahoma and South Carolina where story
telling is treasured, it was only natural that my paintings began to include
text. Living in New York made me aware
of the wonderful, exotic qualities of the American, rural character and
appreciative of its relaxed wit and wry humor.Each image includes a story that broadens in its scope to
depict class, race, death or gender politics. Often puns and art historical references occur between the image, the
title and the text. For example, Suddenly Last Birthday uses the
background of Las Meninas to emphasize the princess reference. The title refers to the Tennessee Williams
play about a cannibalistic event. Eat Crow the composition is based on
The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters by Goya, which refers to Aunt
Faye staying up night after night to reproduce a pie recipe. The title, Eat Crow, refers to the American colloquialism for humbling a person. Scarlet Runner refers to a type of bean as well as to the
red Indian evading the law.
All of the stories in these narrative, game and ontbijtjes
or laid table Still Life paintings are true. My Great Grandfather never did time for the murder.