Our past, present and future according to Suess

Acrylic on gessobord, 12 x 12"

Painting# 213, 2012-13

This is my third painting paying homage to Dr. Suess. The first two featured our pet goldfish Maurice who is still alive and well and will mark his 3rd anniversary with us next week. I was contacted by one of the galleries that represent me in early fall of 2012, after a patron happen to see "One fish, two fish....gold fish" on their website. Since it had already sold to another collector, I agreed to do a commission piece for them. During the past decade, this patron had acquired several of my paintings, so I submitted several images for their approval which included this more personalized composition. Putting my own spin on the image, I continued along the lines of the postage stamp series and fabricated a First-Day cover. I used a fish in the Suessville postmark to indirectly add Maurice in the mix. The postage stamp I used was issued by the US Postal Service in 2004, marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of Theodore Suess Geisel, (b. March 2, 1904). I decided to omit USA in order to create a more fictional territory for the narrative. The remaining of the objects were suggested by the clients for possible inclusion.

My previous two posting on Dr. Suess does include a few biography notes. Instead of being redundant , I came across this very appropriate video on YouTube that appeared in Rocketboom News. Then anchorwoman, Molly Templeton does an astonishing and clever delivery of a rhyming prose as an homage for author/illustrator's birthday.

Molly Templeton (aka- Mememolly) of Rocketboom News

-Gallery commission

One fish, two fish....gold fish

Acrylic on gessoed hardboard, 2012

8 x 10'', painting # 208

It has been a while since I've completed a painting. I've been busy taking care of other aspects of my life while trying to keep everything in balance. With this said, I hope to devote more time to my artwork in the coming months.

This painting is of sort, a companion piece to ''A Cat and Fish Tale'' created more than two years ago. It is also a piece about celebrating life. In this case, the life of Maurice the fish. Maurice, our pet gold fish was purchased in April of 2010, specifically as a painting prop. Much to my surprise and delight, Maurice is still alive and well and has probably grown about an inch since his first modelling assignment.I did the photo study for the painting in early March on his two year anniversary with us, which would account for the snow outside the window.

''A Cat and Fish Tale''

Acrylic on gessoed hardboard, 8 x 10'', #180, 2010

After spotting Dr. Suess' ''One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish'' 50th anniversary edition book with the gold cover in a few stores around town, the concept came to me. However, I decided to use a regular edition book with the yellow cover to anchor the composition. It was purchased as a set along with ''Green Eggs and Ham'' on eBay. These books are Dr. Suess' three best selling titles. In 2000, they were ranked in the top 15 best selling children books of all-time. 

With the most recent box office success of the computer-animated film ''The Lorax'', the spirit of Dr. Suess  (Theodor Suess Geisel) remains alive and well. Life often has a funny way of letting you know what is important if you are awake enough to see the signs. This past Easter while walking in front of the White House in Washington D.C. during the Easter Egg Roll, this young mother and child were leaving the grounds and she was sporting a very familiar tote bag, which reminded me the importance of pursuing the imagery.

   

   Easter in Washington, DC.

Update- February 24, 2014 

Today, Maurice the fish journeyed to the largest of all fish bowl, one without glass. We will miss you little buddy, it was a great 4 years.

-SOLD

A Cat & Fish Tale

Acrylic on gessoed hardboard, 8 x 10''

#180, 2010

This latest painting was conceived for an upcoming group show entitled ''CATS'', opening at Handworks Gallery on May 7. When the gallery invited me to submit a piece for this exhibition, I came across the book The Cat in the Hat at Costco that same evening. It was one of the first books I ever read when I started to learn English in grade 3. After re-reading it some forty years later, I decided to incorporate the fish in the imagery since he appears as the voice of reason of this fable. Also a great opportunity to add a few Cat's Eye marbles in this whimsical context.

Dr. Suess (Theodor Suess Geisel) remains an iconic American author and illustrator. His most famous book is Green Eggs and Ham. The Cat in the Hat published in 1957 comes in a close second and is ranked at #9 on the best sellers children book list of all-time, selling 10 million copies.

I purchased this fan-tail goldfish especially to do the painting. He seems to be enjoying his new larger fishbowl quite well and is currently residing in our son's Jean-Luc's bedroom. He has received the name of ''Maurice'', named after a goldfish from a Nestlé commerical. The week prior, Jean-Luc had to do a presentation in front of his French class at school and do a critical analysis of a French television advertisement. Check out this very funny ad, where the fish gets the blame for eating 3 chocolate Mousse in one sitting.

-SOLD