Here Comes The Sun
2008 - 19"x16.5" Acrylic, pencil, charcoal, oil pastel, newspaper, on wood.
Finished with two coats of Krylon Kamar Varnish #1312
(Private Collection - California)

July 25, 2008

With all the news reports about rising fuel costs and alternative energy, it was just a matter of time before some of this found it's way into a painting.

The big green animal was originally going to be a bull (see photo below) but then I added the tongue and it turned into a chameleon. I thought it still needed a horn, so I guess it's a horned chameleon. There is an endless list of what and who the chameleon symbolizes.

Above the green M&M tree is lizard playing a game of hangman with the Tribe of Warmongers. Lizard told them the mystery word was related to solving the energy crisis. The tribe was fixated on words related to war and democratizing the Middle East, so they lost the game.

The gold volcanoe is supposed to be a nuclear cooling tower. There are a few three eyed froggs hopping around with the walking fish.

The sun is my favorite part of the painting and this along with the Beatles inspired the title. Despite all the doom & gloom, and the over abundance of people & chameleons screwing things up in the world, there are brighter days ahead.

There is Brooklyn Rail newspaper collaged over most of the painting. The hangman game was inspired by a a game of hangman I saw written on the back of a seat during a train trip to Connecticut. The Tribe of War Mongers was inspired by African masks on poles that I saw during a recent visit to the Metropolitan Museum. The nuclear cooling tower & three eyed frogs were inspired by The Simpsons Movie. There's also some inspiration from a documentary movie called "A Crude Awakening". You can find the full version of the movie if you search YouTube, Google Video, etc.

Here is a larger detailed photo: