
Mercury Meteor 1956.
2018. approx 8 ft x 10 ft
charcoal, chalk, spray paint on paper.
I definitely remember this car. The same that Broderick Crawford drove in Hiway Patrol (I think). I would have been three. That's my older brother standing next to it. Or, rather, a fictive representation. I didn't want to restrict your experience, by focusing too much on the particulars of my family. So, I turned him into a young cow. Everyone can identify with farm animals.
charcoal, chalk, spray paint on paper.
I definitely remember this car. The same that Broderick Crawford drove in Hiway Patrol (I think). I would have been three. That's my older brother standing next to it. Or, rather, a fictive representation. I didn't want to restrict your experience, by focusing too much on the particulars of my family. So, I turned him into a young cow. Everyone can identify with farm animals.

Mercury Meteor 1956 Cowboy 1 detail
I really didn't care a thing about cars. I was told to stand there, so I did. My head would have been filled with epic stories featuring me as the hero. Battling in the clouds overhead seemed like a great way to spend the afternoons. No rockets for me. Propellers. Old school

Mercury Meteor 1958
2018. approx 8 ft x 10 ft
charcoal, chalk, spray paint on paper.
I clearly remember this car. More importantly, I remember the houses and the people who lived across the street. I can name them all - the Flora's, the Badali's, the Thatcher's. In executing all these drawings, it has been very important to get those houses just right. I went back a few times recently to assure my authenticiy. While many have been turned into massive atrocities, a number of the original homes still remain.
charcoal, chalk, spray paint on paper.
I clearly remember this car. More importantly, I remember the houses and the people who lived across the street. I can name them all - the Flora's, the Badali's, the Thatcher's. In executing all these drawings, it has been very important to get those houses just right. I went back a few times recently to assure my authenticiy. While many have been turned into massive atrocities, a number of the original homes still remain.

Mercury Meteor 1963
2018. approx 8 ft x 10 ft
charcoal, chalk, spray paint on paper.
The last of the new cars. My father died suddenly that year. My mother is standing beside it having just come from the hospital with my new little brother in that bundle. My mother's "dress-up" attire included what she considered an elegant lamb's wool coat. So, going along with that theme, I turned her into a sheep. But that is one defiant sheep. In real life, my mother was anything but.
charcoal, chalk, spray paint on paper.
The last of the new cars. My father died suddenly that year. My mother is standing beside it having just come from the hospital with my new little brother in that bundle. My mother's "dress-up" attire included what she considered an elegant lamb's wool coat. So, going along with that theme, I turned her into a sheep. But that is one defiant sheep. In real life, my mother was anything but.

The Secret Language of Objects, 2017
Not officially part of this particular series. But an earlier exploration of the identity that we (really, just me) project onto objects. Those are some of my favourite things. And yes, that is most definitely my hand.
Each sheet 22 in x 30 in. Charcoal, carbon and coloured pencil on paper
Each sheet 22 in x 30 in. Charcoal, carbon and coloured pencil on paper

August Humming
2019, 5 panels, each 22 in. x 30 in.
Charcoal, digitally processed drawing collaged onto paper
As a kid, I was seriously allergic to ragweed pollen. Hayfever! From the first spring days to the first frost, I would spend entire summers either drugged to sleep or with streaming itchy eyes and a runny nose. In either case, unable to function. A perfect target for bullies.
Charcoal, digitally processed drawing collaged onto paper
As a kid, I was seriously allergic to ragweed pollen. Hayfever! From the first spring days to the first frost, I would spend entire summers either drugged to sleep or with streaming itchy eyes and a runny nose. In either case, unable to function. A perfect target for bullies.

Circle
2019. approx 8 ft x 10 ft
charcoal, chalk, digitally
processed drawing collaged onto paper.
The late 50's and early 60's were times of unparalleled prosperity. But it was also the height of the Cold War and the nuclear arms race. At the time, propoganda reassured that we could survive a nuclear bomb. So, the air raids would sound and we practiced "duck and cover". But even the teachers must have realized the futlility of hiding under your desk. One day during a drill they led us downstairs and told us to sit on the pattern on the floor. Only years later did I realize that pattern was a bull's eye.
The story would be ironic and kind of funny - except, here we go again. Trump has just announced a re-invigorated arms race!
charcoal, chalk, digitally
processed drawing collaged onto paper.
The late 50's and early 60's were times of unparalleled prosperity. But it was also the height of the Cold War and the nuclear arms race. At the time, propoganda reassured that we could survive a nuclear bomb. So, the air raids would sound and we practiced "duck and cover". But even the teachers must have realized the futlility of hiding under your desk. One day during a drill they led us downstairs and told us to sit on the pattern on the floor. Only years later did I realize that pattern was a bull's eye.
The story would be ironic and kind of funny - except, here we go again. Trump has just announced a re-invigorated arms race!

You Are The Garden, 2019
I really like gardening. It may be my only true hobby. I revel in the garden's lushness. I like to send my mind down all the dark cracks, crevices and hidey holes where insects and other fantastic creatures might live. Comprised of nine panels, this is my exploration of my relationship to my garden. Both physcially and metaphorically. You will note that at the heart of my garden I have a small koi pond.
The linear structure invites a narrative interpretation, which I welcome. You can read the "story" any way that you like. Left to right, right to left, inside out, outside in.
The linear structure invites a narrative interpretation, which I welcome. You can read the "story" any way that you like. Left to right, right to left, inside out, outside in.

Rustle
12 panels, each 8.5 in x 11 in. Digitally captured, processed and reduced charcoal drawings, with additional charcoal, digitally generated text collaged on, and all that generously abused with a rotary sander.
I wasn't really satisfied with the results of "In My Garden". So, I "Dav-i-fied" them. Captured them digitally. Inverted and flipped them on my computer. Then printed them each out as 8.5 in x 11 in images. Set them up so that the images were mirror reflections on the vertical axis.
Then really went to town with my rotary sander. Went back in with my charcoal. Added some collaged text, that my partner Sue (an accomplished poet) added to the project.
This version better captures the mystery and quiet that I had intended in the first place.