As a painter in the age of the internet I spend a lot of time online collecting photos of weird people. They are almost always staring at you. This is them asking for the approval of the viewer. You’re probably wondering “What’s the deal with these guys?” It's because I see myself in them; you probably do too.
Historically oil paint has been an important tool for accurately documenting important dead people. I'm basically doing the same thing with a contemporary twist. Think “Internet Realism”. Luminous blues reference digital light on skin. Burning reds, fleshy pinks, and pallid yellows let you meditate on the weirdness of the human body. Maybe you can imagine yourself on the other side of their monitor striking up a conversation. They’re pretty small and painted fast with slippery and thick paint. This makes for a nice painterly treat for the eyes while reminding you of a screen. I may not be as fast as a camera but at least my brushwork makes it look like they’re just as candid.
These are online yet intimate moments that I want to heighten. I paint them as earnestly as they present themselves. I know you may see them as cringey, but that’s the point. We’re all cringey in our own ways but I find a lot of beauty in that earnestness. I’m shining a new light on these guys beyond the one coming from their screens. They’re part of painting history now and they deserve it.