The Collector Painting

"The Artist" and "The Collector" are two new paintings that I worked on recently further exploring my work on identity. These paintings were created side by side but are not a diptych. Although, an artist and a collector are a pair made for each other. I've been looking into my soul lately and thinking about the different kinds of artwork that has influenced my life. I see fine art as only one element. I've been moved and inspired by tribal masks, illustrations, shitty tattoos, bad graffiti (and good), urban noise, old decaying signs and surreal low brow art. These characters are bears wearing rabbit skull masks. The bear is a symbol of medicinal ways and taking care of those around you. The rabbit has been depicted in many trickster stories. My little caterpillar characters in this work symbolizes inspiration or intuition to follow what you dream or love. The Ojibwe have a word that means "little spirits", manidoons (mah-nee-doonz). It is the word we use to describe bugs and worms. We use this word because other than spirits, bugs, worms are said to be the only other thing that can change their form. We, as people, can change, can grow and can reinvent ourselves. These themes and concepts are what drive this type of imagery when you see it in my work. Because I have gone through much personal growth and change in my life, and the result is the most inspiring experience I have ever had.