“Malthusian” refers to Thomas Malthus’ (1766-1834) theory of over-population and its dire consequences in relationship to feeding an ever-expanding world population. In 1988, I had a series of vivid dreams where throngs of people replaced cars on roads and endless crowds moved as a human herd.
To deal with the anxiety, I started photographing people during rush hour to use as a reference for my first “Malthusian Paintings”. These canvases are crowded with moving figures, often faceless but somehow connected in their shared kaleidoscopic pattern of light and shadow.
Using old master’s oil glazing techniques and embracing the “moving” aspect of the figures, the canvases capture passages of abstraction embedded within realistically structured compositions.
The illusion of movement is heightened when light reflects off gold and copper leaf layered between transparent veils of paint.
The Malthusian paintings represent my first “environmental” artwork and continue to provide an outlet for concern about over-population, pollution, food supply and how everything is interdependent and relative to the number of people on earth.
To deal with the anxiety, I started photographing people during rush hour to use as a reference for my first “Malthusian Paintings”. These canvases are crowded with moving figures, often faceless but somehow connected in their shared kaleidoscopic pattern of light and shadow.
Using old master’s oil glazing techniques and embracing the “moving” aspect of the figures, the canvases capture passages of abstraction embedded within realistically structured compositions.
The illusion of movement is heightened when light reflects off gold and copper leaf layered between transparent veils of paint.
The Malthusian paintings represent my first “environmental” artwork and continue to provide an outlet for concern about over-population, pollution, food supply and how everything is interdependent and relative to the number of people on earth.
At the Corner
18x15 oil on linen 2004 
Bus Stop
15x14 oil on linen 2009 
Florence Promenade 20x18 oil on linen 2008 Collection of Muscarelle Museum 
Green Shirt
12x9 oil on panel 2011 
Malthusian
12x11 oil on linen 2014 
Malthusian
17x14 oil on linen 1999 
Malthusian
18x18 oil with gold and copper leaf on linen 2000 
Malthusian
36x32 oil on linen 2000 
Malthusian Symphony
58x48 oil on linen 1990 
Michelangelo Effect Opus II
12x9 oil on paper 2013 
On the Move
50x40 oil with gold and copper leaf on linen 2007 
Petite Malthusian
10x8 oil on panel 2013 
Study Bus Stop
8x10 oil with gold and copper leaf on panel 2007 
The Bus Stops Here
44x50 oil on linen 1991 
The Passage
18x18 oil with gold and copper leaf on linen 2006 
The Rush
6x8 oil on canvas board 1992 
True Reflection
10x8 oil on mirror 2013 
Umbrella Green and Rust
10x8 oil on canvas board 1988 
Umbrella Green and Rust 10x8 oil on canvas board 1988 
Figure 40x20 oil on linen 2000 |
Bag Trilogy Study
14x13 oil and graphite on gator board 2010 
Florence Promenade
14x11 oil on linen 2009 
Florence Promenade Study
12x8 oil on geessoed gator board 2009 Collection of Muscarelle Museum 
Lady in Red Dress
8x6 oil on canvas 1988 
Malthusian
12x10 oil on canvas board 1990 
Malthusian
15x12 oil on linen 2000 SMITHSONIAN AMERICAN ART MUSEUM collection 
Malthusian
18x14 oil on linen 1998 
Malthusian
31x26 oil on linen 2010 
Malthusian Study
Oil with colored pencil on panel 2008 
Malthusian Triangle
8x8 oil on panel 2013 
Malthusian Triangle
8x8 oil on panel 2013 
On Call
48x36 oil with palladium leaf on linen FRAMED 2015 
Red Jackets
11x13 oil on linen 2010 copy 2 
Reflected
32x32 oil on linen 2009 
Symphony Encore
16x20 oil with copper leaf on panel 2008 
The Expedition
18x18 oil with gold leaf on linen 1996 
The Rush
6x8 oil on canvas board 1992 
Time Walk
48x42 oil with gold and cu leaf on linen 2010 
Umbrella Cascade
12x10 oil on canvas panel 1988 
White Hat
21x9 oil on panel 2010 
White Hat
12x9 oil on panel 2010 
White Hat 12x9 oil on panel 2010 |