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Baker's Dozen | Oil on Canvas | 28 x 28 inches (comprised of 9 (8 x 8 in) canvases)

 

The evolution of my work has grown to include words as part of the imagery on canvas. Words can take on a life of their own in association with other images or even by themselves. Seeing a word such as ‘follow’ can have a positive or negative connotation that is essentially out of my control and the beauty in that is something I encourage from anyone that views my artwork. In the past, the words have come towards the end of each piece like a final stroke in the painting’s message. The words don’t always correlate and are often in juxtaposition with the image. I try not to interfere and let the painting manifest itself.

For this series, I chose the words and idioms beforehand and chose to illustrate the word rather than including them in written form. Idioms are fascinating for many reasons- their origins, the visual imagery they contribute to language, their complete integration to the point we don’t consciously recognize them anymore, but mostly, their playfulness in language and how they pepper language in their own unique way.
Exploring them and creating this puzzle of sorts from concept to completion was an incredibly playful experience. 

Each of the 9 images borders another image that complete an idiom. Each image needs its neighbor to make the idiom. There are 12 in total. For instance, the center piece has 4 neighbors, therefore, makes 4 idioms. Some images can have synonyms to complete the idiom with its neighbor. Some aren’t exactly literal.

The Idioms: Half a Mind, Bird Brain, Half-Cocked, Cock and Bull, Bull Headed, Bull's Eye, Bird's Eye, Cock Sure, Sure-Handed, Cow or Cattle Hand, Red Handed & Red Eye