"40 Ounces: Brain Bottle", 26" x 10", Acrylic on Canvas, 2003

"40 Ounces: Chrysalis", 26" x 10", Acrylic on Canvas, 2003
"40 Ounces: And the Scales Tipp'd", 26" x 10", Acrylic on Canvas, 2003
"40 Ounces: Stomach", 26" x 10", Acrylic on Canvas, 2003
"40 Ounces: The Triumph and The Tragedy", 26" x 10", Acrylic on Canvas, 2003

This series of paintings comes to you courtesy of my past. I recently unearthed them while cleaning out a corner of my studio. They were painted at a time when I was dealing with the troubling issue of alcoholism which rode along with me through my life. It amazes me, in retrospect, how entwined alcohol is with certain social circles. As a blue collar worker AND an artist it was considered odd if you DIDN'T drink. It was very hard to get away from.

Each one shows a different surrealistic perspective on the problem.

They are designed to be shown together so they are being sold as a package. They are painted in a rougher, looser style than I work in today having not yet discovered the power of the airbrush at that time. Also, due to their age and place in my development as an artist, they are selling for a song.

This series won "Best in Show", in the 24th annual Juried Show of Fine Arts at the Visual Arts Centre of Clarington.

They are all acrylic on canvas and come ready to hang.

"40 Ounces: Love", 18" x 24", acrylic on canvas, framed
"40 Ounces: Less", 18" x 24", acrylic on canvas, framed
"40 Ounces: 273", 18" x 24", acrylic on canvas, framed

Why 40 Ounces? Because they all deal with alcoholism, my alcoholism. They are three pieces painted many years ago as I was struggling with the effects of my alcohol addiction, one that would unfortunately stick with me for many years to come. It was part of the culture I was in both blue collar and artistic and it was nigh on impossible to avoid. I once spent an evening at a scotch/whiskey party drinking cranberry juice while I tried to avoid alcohol. There was quite a bit of ribbing at the time as you can well imagine.

It is only recently (in the last six months) that I've final said goodbye to it.

Because these pieces are older, I'm selling them on for a song and I'm also selling them on together. They are meant to be shown as a set.

Each piece comes with a custom frame hand crafted by yours truly. When you hang them up together in your home, they'll be a real show stopper!