Don’t Cry for Me Amerika

Completed: 2009

Medium: Acrylic and paper on wood panel.

Dimensions: 24″w x 48″h x 2″d

Price: $1100

Description:

This painting is a dual portrait of Hillary Clinton and Eva Peron. It’s purpose is to highlight and criticize the similarities between these two powerful women. Both made their rise to power through the political careers of their husbands, and went on to dictate policy according to their own beliefs. Although Hillary Clinton has not achieved the martyr status of Peron, who died young of cancer, she has made her mark on American History.

As the title suggests, both women had an overwhelming arrogance and over-inflated sense of their own importance. Both women would stop at nothing to achieve their goals and had no regard for the concerns of the people they set out to ‘help’. Don’t Cry for Me Amerika is a testament to the big government mentality and power-hungry actions of two women hell-bent on making a place for themselves in history. It’s a shame so many lives have been destroyed by their collective actions. The people they set out to ‘help’ ultimately are worse off than before their meddling programs were instituted. Argentina, has never recovered from the atrocities wrought by the Peron regime. Hillary is more than willing to take America down the same path. For that reason, this painting is not meant to be complementary to either woman. Some may view their achievements as great, but I disagree. The fact that Eva Peron’s tomb is worshiped as a shrine is a testament to the ignorance of those obsessed with celebrity culture. She may have achieved much in her life, but in the end, she was just another loud-mouth Liberal actress with bleached blond hair.

Because I did a great deal of research for this painting, I would like to highlight some of the similarities between their actions and beliefs.

• Support of government education
• Socialized health care
• Public housing
• Support of and funded by Unions
• Portrayed themselves as working for the poor, while living in luxury
• Large portions of their political bases from low-income and working class people who didn’t understand their true motives
• Wardrobes and jewels manufactured by high-end designers
• Powerful speakers, prone to screaming and shrill tirades who are unable to accept criticism
• Campaigned heavily for their husbands rise to power, then used their influence to dictate programs
• Out of touch with the true needs of the people, in the case of Clinton, she has been known to say that she will ‘give the people what she thinks they need, regardless of what they want’
• Both have been embroiled in corruption, even in the very programs that were ‘designed to help the poor’
• Masters at distracting the public from the actions and scandals created by their husbands
• Both behave like royalty

Compassionate Conservatism #1

Completed: 2008

Medium: Acrylic and vine charcoal on wood panel.

Dimensions: 24w x 24h x 2d

Notes: Unframed

Price: $575

Description:

This painting is meant to address the most disturbing aspect of George Bush’s terms as President. As the title suggests, I feel that Compassionate Conservatism is the worst legacy Bush could have bestowed upon the people of the United States. Above all else, it is the one thing about his Presidency that has had the most affect on the most people. As a matter of fact, it is the root of all the problems in his administration. It is the compulsion that drives him to nation building in Iraq, financial bailouts, and bad economic policy at home, and environmental legislation that affects the livelihoods of many Americans.

Compassionate Conservatism, with the support of the Democratic majority in Congress have worked together to the massive increase in national debt, a huge deficit, and increased government intervention in people’s lives. The spending programs alone are creating a burden that the taxpayers of today and future generations will struggle to pay. As a result of this movement within the Republican Party toward compassion and away from Constitutional principles, we are now faced with one major party in this country that does everything in its power to keep anyone else from challenging their power. Because most voters make their electoral decisions based on Party affiliation, rather than principle, we are faced with a huge problem. The Republicans and Democrats are now fighting to spend more money on their respective constituents, rather than performing the job laid out in the Constitution.

People say W is the worst President in history. Although I find the assertion excessive, I can concede that it has some merit. My main argument is that Congress has had as much to do with the creation of the mess we are in as Bush has. They pass the Bills and write the legislation, therefore, they share the guilt. Bush’s guilt lies in his inability to stand up to his campaign promises and use his power of veto. He let the American people down by running on a campaign of reform and compromising on everything he proposed as well as signing on to huge pork and entitlement programs.

The only redeeming quality of his administration is the prevention of further terrorist attacks since 9/11. Unfortunately, that accomplishment is sullied by the abuse of civil liberties perpetrated in the Patriot Act as well as the enormous debt being incurred in Iraq. Although I supported the war, I think it is time to let the Iraqi people take responsibility for their own country and remove another source of debt from the American taxpayers.

It is not our government’s job to take care of us, protect us from ourselves, or dictate morality to us when no one else is harmed by our actions. Our government should stop trying to police the world, and let the American people choose who and how much they help with foreign aid on a personal level. There is no justification for the government to dictate charity at the point of a gun.

Effigy #1984

Completed: 2004

Medium: Pencil and mixed media.

Price $550

Dimensions: 37w x 18h x 1d

Notes: Professionally framed with conservation glass.

Description:

This illustration is a commentary on the overwhelming hatred of George Bush that seems to infect most of the liberal population. Granted, all politicians have opposition, but I can’t remember hearing so many people wishing someone dead as there are for Bush. I’m not his biggest fan by far, but we could and have done worse.

The level of hatred and overwhelming anger exhibited by these people reminded me of the Two Minutes Hate in George Orwell’s novel 1984, so I set to work making a visual representation of the phenomenon. I have personally had conversations with people who broke down and screamed “Bush is a fascist” when the discussion didn’t go their way. It seems to be a mania, or dementia, or compulsion to call a person a Nazi when you can no longer carry on a rational conversation. I guess the point I’m making is, it’s a little scary when people get so angry they can’t be rational anymore.

Accordingly, I used excerpts from the book that illustrate the point I’m trying to make. Each excerpt is accompanied with a graphic image that is a visual representation of the thought expressed in the novel. they’re arranged in a gritty, sequential art style that is supposed to make you feel a little edgy- the way those people make me feel when they start raving. I’ll be the first to say I’m guilty of the same behavior, but I like to spread it around a little. I tend to think all the politicians are the problem, and our government could stand a little less of itself.

A great deal of thought went into this piece and there was much research into the visual elements as well as the literary. The celebrity quotes are from a variety of sources and I didn’t document them as well as I normally would, but they’re out there if you look hard enough. The rest of the quotes and statistics are referenced below.

Links:

The Origin of the Double Standard
Michael Tremoglie    www.mensnewsdaily.com

Hate Speech from the Left
Jeff Jacoby    December 29, 2003 www.townhall.com

Like, I’m Psychologically Disturbed
Cal Thomas    July 29, 2003 www.townhall.com

1984, George Orwell
Excerpts from Chapter 5    www.online-literature.com

The American Psychological Association Psychological Bulletin Study on Conservative Behavior    www.wam.umd.edu

 

Empty behind the mask.

Completed: 2005

Medium: Oil on Canvas.

Dimensions: 26w x 26h x 2d

Notes: Framed by artist.

Price: $675

Description:

This painting is a portrait of John Kerry as he is, rather than as he portrays himself. He is a two-faced opportunist who will say anything to get a vote or advance his cause. He says what he thinks the target audience wants to hear, which is often the opposite of a stand he took with another audience just a short time before on the same topic. There is very little that he seems to have a concrete opinion of, other than the Iraq war being wrong (although the reasons are various and contradictory) and all the other rich guys are evil, but he’s just an everyday Joe. His opinions are so conflicting and diverse as to be incomprehensible. I originally intended to include quotes in this painting, but there are too many to choose from. You can find them easily if you do a little research of your own.

Some suggested articles to get you on your way are listed below. Although they were not the inspiration for this piece (Kerry is all the inspiration I needed), they illustrate the point I am making.

Links:

John Kerry vs John Kerry on legal reform. The Center for Individual Freedom, October 18, 2004 http://www.cfif.org

Spinning with the winds of change.

Completed: 2004

Medium: Oil on canvas.

Price $350

Dimensions: 14w x 26h x 3d

Notes: Framed by artist

Description:

This painting is a companion piece to Empty Behind the Mask(2005). Both were started at the same time, but this was my favorite of the two and was finished more quickly. This piece is also a dig at Kerry’s lack of integrity or consistency. The full rant can be found with the other painting. I have included a few more articles for background on this piece.

Links:

John Kerry vs John Kerry on legal reform. CFIF.org, October 18, 2004 http://www.cfif.org/freedomonline/current/in_our_opinion/kerry_vs_john_kerry.htm

On arrogance, Iraq, Vietnam, Teresa, I-me-my, etc. Ross McKenzie September 28, 2004 www.townhall.com

His Royal Highness. David Hogberg, The American Spectator March 11, 2004

Kerry’s past is disturbing on many levels. Frank Salvato, American Daily March 10, 2004

A tale of two Kerrys. Diana West March 8, 2004

Fiscal Follies. August 9, 2004 WSJ. com Opinion Journal

Sucking the Party dry.

This painting has been donated to the 2011 Artpapers Auction. I will receive 35% of the final bid.

Completed:2004

Medium:Acrylic and china marker on masonite.

Dimensions:24w x 48h x 2d

Notes:Framed by artist.

Description:

This painting is a statement on the power-hungry nature of Bill and Hillary Clinton. Since Hillary is the most guilty of this vice, it could be said the painting is an homage to her hunger for power and esteem at the expense of all else. I’m sure Bill’s just come along for the ride. The Clintons, like so many of their peers, will stop at nothing to be in the spotlight. They do this even at the expense of their own party, movement and supporters. They will literally suck the Democratic Party dry if it will achieve their goals. Amazingly, some of their liberal counterparts have grown wise, and have become a great source of quotes on the subject. These quotes form the under-painting of this piece.

The emaciated donkey is the Democratic Party when it has lived out its usefulness to the Clinton political machine. Bill and Hillary are the flatworms emerging from the spent carcass, eagerly looking for the next victim.

A flatworm can be excused for its nature. It cannot help being a parasite. The Clintons, and so many like them, are aware of the damage they do and the cost their constituents bear – and take full advantage. All of the quotes come from a single article which contained many more. There just wasn’t room in one painting for all of them.

 

The Jersey Girls and the vile business of blood money.

Completed: 2004

Medium: Acrylic on board.

Price $200

Dimensions: 12.25w x 17h x 3d

Notes: Framed by artist.

Description:

This painting is a fairly straightforward representation of my disgust with the people who are taking advantage of the deaths of the 9/11 victims. The Jersey Girls are a particularly offensive portion of this group because they work so hard to be prominent in the media by exploiting the deaths of their husbands. This behavior is repulsive in so many ways and belittles the losses suffered by everyone in the terrorist attacks on the Trade Center, The Pentagon, and the planes on 9/11.

The vultures are an obvious representation of the widows. The rest of the imagery is representative of the death and destruction they use for their personal benefit. If you look closely, you can see the firefighters risking their lives to rescue anyone they can.

A great deal of research went into the visual components of this painting. Although there are no graphs or quotes included, there is an article listed below that gives some perspective on the behavior of the widows.

Links:

The 9/11 Widows: Americans are beginning to tire of them.
Dorothy Rabinowitz’s Media Log
Wednesday, April 14, 2004 http://opinionjournal.com/medialog/?id=110004950.html

The World according to Alice

Completed: 2008

Medium: Colored pencil and cut paper.

Price: This painting was donated to Art Papers for their 2010 fund raising auction.

Dimensions: 20w x 16h x 2d

Notes: Framed by artist with conservation glass.

Description:

This drawing is about the political rhetoric and fear mongering that is used by politicians every election to take our attention away from the important issues in our lives. More importantly, it creates a smokescreen that obscures the behavior of those politicians and the way they use the government to regulate our behavior and redistribute income to their own advantage. The worst thing about this is how well it works on the average person. Every election we’re told: ‘They’re going to take away Social Security’. ‘They’re going to cut your healthcare benefits’. ‘We’re going to give you healthcare – FREE!’ ‘Elect me and I’ll cut your taxes’. ‘The rich aren’t paying their fair share’. And on, and on, and on.

First of all, this is infuriating to me because I don’t want the government meddling in my life. None of these promises helps anyone but the politicians. It’s not Big Brother’s job to take care of me. I don’t want the government saving for my retirement or providing my healthcare. I can do those things very well myself and I don’t want anyone else dictating their use to me. The simple solution to the tax problem in this country is the fair tax. The only problem anyone genuinely has with it is that it puts the government on a budget. How would they ever fund all their pork and entitlement programs?

In case no one has noticed yet, we can’t really make the rich pay their fair share because they’re already paying everyone’s fair share. Besides, these guys aren’t concerned about anyone’s fair share. Income redistribution is the best way to buy votes.

I am absolutely astonished at how well this work for the guys in Washington. Has this country really become so full of leeches and beggars that no one wants to be free anymore?

This is a mixed media piece. The main elements are cut paper and colored pencil. I really like the brain. I would’ve gone into science if I wasn’t so bad at math, so I guess it appeals to my nerdy side. Of course I think Chicken Little and her barnyard friends are hilarious. I think they turned out very well. The flowers are meant to add to the feeling of Alice in Wonderland, and the politicians are the rotten fruit growing on them. The basic idea is that all these powerful people are telling Alice what to think. They’re scaring Alice with propaganda to make us paranoid of the other guy and dependent upon them. They don’t want Alice to be self-reliant and independent. Each politician is accompanied by some of their rhetoric and attributes that reflect their agendas.

In the foreground, Chicken Little and her friends are running around, frantically trying to find someone to solve their problems for them. I used the silhouette of a woman because Hillary’ role in the election has added a new aspect of feminine idolatry and hysteria to the mix. All these women are coming out of the woodwork like roaches to support her because she has a uterus. What a ridiculous way to vote. When did race, gender, or any other label make someone qualified to run a country? Aren’t Democrats supposed to be freeing us from all these stereotypes in the name of diversity. I guess it only applies to their opponents. The really scary thing is that all of this obscures the fact that Hillary is more power hungry than all the men combined. The rest of the candidates all have their own demons, they’re just a little less hypocritical than she is.