These Unconventional Portraits are interpreted from a handful of press photographs from various angles.
Mixed Media materials used are; wood, wire, muslin, acrylic paint, paper, hemp & miscellaneous found materials.
The process starts with a wooden frame and then builds upon by layering, shifting and manipulating muslin, found objects, various materials, and acrylic paint until it finally becomes something that I am comfortable with. It is this process of movement, construction and the joining of surfaces that builds the image. Not carved, not poured, molded or pressed but layered while painting.

My objective is to address portrait painting through improvisation in the process and simultaneously capture a likeness of these iconic artists. I'm not so concerned with the profile which I think can add abstract interest. Sometimes there is bas-relief happening but that is not my first intention, I simply want the richness of depth in the face. The adjoining flat and built-out surface tensions are devoid of the formal aspects of a portrait or sculpture, allowing for some improvising which often results in nonconformity. This deviation from the rules of perfection allows for what I feel brings spontaneity to the overall composition.

One of the oldest forms of art is the portrait.

One of the oldest ways to alleviate pain is music.

Both bring Joy.

Filling the walls with color and history.  A reminder that Rock-n-Roll and Art never dies... it's just reinvented!

Dimensional Paintings.
Mixed Media; wood, wire, muslin, miscellaneous found materials and acrylic paint.

It is my intention that the colors and irregularities capture the power and intensity of the music itself.
I would like to demonstrate that portrait painting is not always a prudent image but can also be seen as a history of ideas that stem from expressionist painters, California Funk art, and assemblage artists of the 50s.

It is equally important for me to document some of the biggest musical influences into an unconventional portrait. It is my hope that even if the audience doesn't know who they are looking at, the image will be interesting enough in presence that they will inquire about the musician and their music.

These pieces are meant to be viewed in all lighting conditions. It is an added benefit, that under low light conditions of the evening these paintings come to life in their full potential, revealing the electrifying drama of stage lights and dimly lit nightclub funk.

Featured in California's ArtNois magazine
http://issuu.com/artnois/docs/artnois8/17?e=5387340/5821334

Mixed Media Constructional Portraits demonstrating my earlier work that leans more towards a caricature image. These portraits are more raw or loose with bumpier surface but less surface tension between depth & flatness.

Mixed Media Constructional Portraits demonstrating my earlier work that leans more towards a caricature image. These portraits are more raw or loose with bumpier surface but less surface tension between depth & flatness.

Tidbits of the past. Decades of playing the blues while making Engravings/Aquatint and Mezzotint Etchings prints on my studio press.
Although many of the prints have been sold without documentation, this is a small representation of several series of prints and a small clip of my contribution to the Baltimore Blues scene over the last 30 years.
The Mezzotint Series, the ground is applied by hand with a serrated tool on a Copper Plate, different levels of ink provide a full range of grays and blacks.
The Criminal Series was portrait etchings on zinc plates to get continuous tones of grays and black, pressed onto Reeves BFK paper.
The Dream Series is also Etching/Aquatint designed to be interpreted based on the psychology of dreams.
Music of the Jumpin Hailstones, Featured Vocals & Blues Harmonica of Brett Stuart Wilson

Beginnings in Constructional Art. Experimenting in very large pieces of abstract & figurative work.