1945 Romanée Conti
This bottle, at the time of painting, was the world record holder for most expensive bottle of wine to sell at auction, $558,000. Two bottles of only 600 produced by Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC) in 1945 were part of a Sotheby’s sale in New York in 2018.
Acrylic on canvas
2020

Vs. Nature
When living in Laguna Beach in the late 90s, we were inundated with rain from El Niño. Laguna Canyon was closed for almost a week before and after mud slides. All the signs from nature were there, don’t build in these areas, don’t push development towards the shoreline, water and the ocean are relentless. “Vs. Nature” paints the picture of our incessant drive to compete against nature with a simple buoy warning us: Go back, you will eventually lose.
Black White Red Series
Acrylic on canvas
1997

Piano
When I first moved to Seattle in 1996 to join The Fremont Hemp Co., of which I was a partner, my friends picked me up from the airport and took me straight to Molly’s house for dinner. She was an incredible pianist. After a five course meal, we sat in her living room while she played Mozart, Beethoven and others. The picture window was reminiscent of the life I left behind, an advertising job at Jeep where my 26th floor window office looked out over the Southeast Michigan skyline. Fall was spectacular.
Acrylic on canvas
1996

Fireworks
The path came from another painting of mine called “Flowers”. It’s a tale of traveling through life looking at all the opportunities around us. This time, those opportunities explode for attention as we continue walking, searching, ignoring as we look for something more intriguing over the horizon.

This painting evolved out of my Black White Red Series. Picasso had a blue period so I thought, yeah, artists do that. I should focus on some specific colors. I chose Black and white in a nod to Ansel Adams because I dug his photography, plus a touch of red since you can’t add color to a traditional B&W photo. Red signifying, stop, danger, romance or some other pop of attention. Ok, so what, this one slipped a little with the yellow for the sunset.
Black White Red Series
Acrylic on canvas
1996

Candles
On the surface sure, they are candles. But they are laid out to remind of the conversation and the woman I was sitting across from that evening. We were sitting on the floor, she had her legs to the side as we got to know each other. The larger candle depicts the passion or flame between us.
Acrylic on canvas
1998