The Carrot Ritual
2011 - 20"x24"x1.5" Acrylic, graphite, charcoal, oil pastel, newspaper, on gallery wrapped canvas.
Liquitex Gloss #5016 under coat, Golden Polymer Matte Varnish #7720-6 (top coat)
(Private Collection - New York)

May 21, 2011

Background:

The green and black dinosaurs were the first to emerge. There was originally a one-eyed alien where blue dinosuar is and he was holding a long fishing pole over his head with the carrot on the end. Later, I decided to add the golden rabbit with the fishing pole and the one-eyed alien was replaced with the blue dinosaur. After I added the fish with legs next to rabbit, I knew the painting was complete.

Behind the green dinosaur you will see a weird looking electronic schematic. I was working on this electronics project and there was an issue with it accidentally picking up AM radio signals. It's an example of how random things in my head end up in my artwork.

I remember finishing this painting and really strugling with what to call it. It was May 21st and I was watching the evening news and began writing a story, hoping it would inspire a title. The local NY news was fixated on some religious nut in Times Square, who said the world was going to end at 7:00pm. Well 7:00pm came and went without incident. There is a story in development, and someday it might end up as a book.

Why is the rabbit golden? It is the year of the rabbit.