William S. Burroughs, "Tell"

William S. Burroughs - Tell

Portrait, 8.5 x 11 in.

Lead on Paper

William S. Burroughs is probably best known for his amazing literary genius as displayed in his most famous book, Naked Lunch - as well as a herald and founding member of the Beat Generation along with Alan Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac.  Though Burroughs works have not celebrated the same success as Kerouac's works has he definitely carved out a comfortable niche amongst disillusioned drug addicts as well as collegiate and intellectual circuits alike.  Early in his career Burroughs accidentally shot his wife in the head while performing a re-enactment of the William Tell routine as they called it, where Burroughs would shoot a cup off of his wife's head.  He missed and she was killed in the middle of a crowded bar.  Though he never served time for the crime as it was ruled accidental it haunted him for the rest of his life.  Knowing this the symbolism of this picture should then not be missed...

Mos Def, "Hood"

Mos Def - Hood

Portrait, 8.5 x 11 in.

Lead on Paper

Mos Def is with out a doubt my favorite Hip-Hop artist out there.  He's also one of the few musicians turned actors that I've ever seen that isn't only decent, but I think he's actually a hell of an actor.  Something The Lord Made was an absolutely stunning film and his most recent album, "Ecstatic" is a non-stop thrill ride from beginning to end!  This piece pays tribute to the cover of his first album Black on Both Sides where images were heavily contrasted against each other in a black and white fashion, but depicted in color.  It was a neat photo and I covered half of his face to give it that same sort of dark, shadowy, cloak and dagger feel.

Bob Marley - The Wailers, "Laugh"

Bob Marley, "Laugh"

Portrait, 8 1/2 x 11 in

Lead on Paper

Marley was a movement unto himself.  He didn't see himself as black or white, he didn't see himself as Jamaican or English - he saw himself as a divine creation of God like all other men and women.  And God had put him here for one reason - to spread love.  It was this unparalleled message of joy, happiness, peace and forgiveness that drove Marley's music and sky rocketed him into the international spotlight before his untimely death in 1981.  Likewise it was these same ideals that I tried to convey in the smiling visage you see before you.  Marley's smile was so strong it seemed like it could move mountains - his laugh jovial enough to raise the dead for one more joke.  Dreadlocks and a scruffy goatee were his visual trademarks but you still can't help but be affected by the peace and happiness that Marley was able to find in a world that seems to so dark atavistic at times. A light in a dark tunnel - at least now you can get a flashlight in the form of a print or poster...

Hunter S. Thompson, "Gonzo"

Hunter S. Thompson, "Gonzo"

Portrait, 10 1/2 x 12 1/2 in
Lead on Paper

Thompson led a troubled life and might not have been a picture of sanity to most people, but he's a personal hero.  He was always ahead of he game, one step in front of everyone else.  His life was an incredible journey, kicked out of his home town after he was arrested, Thompson subsequently joined the army where he began his illustrious career as a journalist.  Though he worked at Rolling Stones magazine for several years, and was even teamed with Ralph Steadman the artist who would follow Thompson on his rise to the top, but failed to hit it big until there was an 'incident'.  Thompson was sent to cover the Mint 500 motorcycle race but instead turned in a bizarre op-ed piece of what would later become known as "gonzo" journalism.  The manuscript was the outlines of what would become the know American Literary Classic, "Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas"; which know stand along with other titles like "On The Road" and "Naked Lunch" as quintessential counter-culture reading material.