First series of paintings in 2023. Revisiting my found photos from 2006. Exploring the more exploded versions of myself and work.

22x30 - Mixed Media - Spraypaint on paper - Unframed

While painting, sometimes I like to “harvest” the rattlers inside the spray cans. When a can is empty I puncture it and remove the rattler. This go around, while I was working on this series the word Bearing came into my head. These rattlers look like ball bearings and that got me thinking about the word bearing. First of all its got the word “bear” in it. I’m getting my bearings? I’ll grit and bear it. I can bear it. A bear can take a lot apparently. They are big and scary. The definition and first use of the word (as far as mechanical terms) goes back quite a ways with some early machines using the term - a bearing would “bear” the weight of objects to make the job easier, as far back as Egyptian times if I’m remembering correctly. First of the year. First five paintings. I guess you could say I’m getting my bearings, especially when it comes to the kind of paintings I would like to make. Let me go in this direction. But also I guess mentally I am searching for the tools to take some of the weight out of my life.