"Silhouette of My Younger Self, Actualized, Pt. 1"

Semi Abstract Joe Photo

“Silhouette of My Younger Self, Pt. 1” was originally a photograph.  The image came straight from a photograph that I took of my shadow on the ground as I was getting into an automobile.  I like the idea of taking photos of my shadows, they are like semi selfies.  I feel pictures directly of me of rather vain, but pictures of shadows are totally acceptable.  Maybe it’s the certain sense of obscurity that I like.  Your brain does have to make some decisions and connect a few more dots than just a regular photograph of someone or something. 

I have an entire collection of them.  Also, this painting is unique in the sense that I met this guy named Joe in this giant abandoned warehouse.  He was using this one of kind machine that printed photographs with OIL PAINT!  If you know anything about me then you know how I detest acrylic paint, and most acrylic artists.  I consider them hobbyists unable to handle the harder, more stringent and demanding life of an Oil painter. 

Yes, this machine replicated photos from oil paint.  This dude was “way out there”, an ex-hippy from Miami, still reeling from the effects of too much cocaine.  He was high-strung to say the least.  Anyway, we had a discussion about some photographs I had of my silhouettes, and I wanted him to print them on some high-quality canvas.  He agreed and I got two copies of them, printed in oil paint on canvas.  I painted on both quickly and the results are pleasing to the senses.  I like them a lot and you can still see my silhouette outlined in the paintings.