I started painting in 2016 after a heart attack reminded me each day above ground is precious. My early works are largely skulls and insects, depicted in bright acrylics because I believe we should make friends of our fears and celebrate our nightmares as well as our dreams. The best Carpe Diem is a Memento Mori.
During lockdown – ironically when live models were scarce – I became fascinated with portraits. Much of my work from the early 2020’s -shown in Selected Artworks – are paintings of my partner and I playing with costumes and exaggerated expressions to buoy our spirits.
My work has also appeared in curated gallery shows including:
- “After Rembrandt” and “Flash” (9” x 12” oil on canvas board) EMERGE show – Guttman Gallery, Ann Arbor, September – October 2023
- “Personal Demons” (Charcoal Self Portrait, 18” x 24), Student Art Show 2022, Washtenaw Community College, March 1 – April 7, 2022
- “Lilith” (9” x 12” acrylic on canvas board) appeared in the 12th annual Damned Show, October 24/25/26 2019 at the Tangent Gallery, Detroit. (Sold)
- “Four Masks” (Oil on gessoed toilet paper) Small Wonders 2020 – In order to lift spirits during Lockdown, this entirely virtual show required artworks be painted on single sheets of toilet paper. I took up the challenge and did one better by depicting several commedia d’ellarte masks.
https://www.smallwondersdetroit.com/updates/ - “Grin” 3”x4” (Oil on board), Small Wonders 2019 (https://www.smallwondersdetroit.com/updates/)
cosmognome @ gmail.com