but this might be the closest I will ever come to immortality.
I was a finalist to have my design put on U.S. currency!
EXTRA, EXTRA,
READ ALL ABOUT IT
One of 9 finalist's out of 9500 entries
Wisconsin's
Commemorative
Quarter Competition
photo documentation by alivia
myself with Governor Dodge
( I am the one with a little color )
my darling daughter Alivia.
Seen here lobbying with the Guv'na
Alivia missed school to photo document this event
and learn a valuable civics lesson.
She did a great job with the camera, also
free-range fiberglass
out of the building to finish
Lupe with paul bunyans head - I did not work on paul's head but I did do his arms
In background is "Nails Tails" a sculpture
by Donald Lipski that Jerry Vettrus produced for
the Camp Randal Stadium renovation
in Madison, WI. Thats Paul Bunyans boot in the foreground.
RYAN
REALLY BAD COPY OF DESIGN.
THE STATE KEPT THE ORIGINAL
In order to meet actual production
requirements the design has to be simple and in all the State quarters they would alter to some extent.
BEFORE YOU SAY
"AN EAGLE ON A COIN, HOW ORIGINAL"
LET ME TELL YOU THIS IS NO
ORDINARY EAGLE!
THIS IS "OLD ABE" A FAMOUS PART OF WISCONSIN CIVIL WAR HISTORY. TRADED NEAR THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER FROM THE NATIVE AMERICAN'S, HE WENT ON TO FIGHT AND SURVIVE EVERY MAJOR BATTLE HIS COMPANY FOUGHT IN.
HIS SCREECHING SWOOPS AT THE ENEMY BECAME SO LEGENDARY THAT GEN. LEE PUT A BOUNTY ON HIS HEAD.
HE SURVIVED IT ALL. AT THE END OF THE WAR , P.T. BARNUM OFFERED TO BUY AND EXHIBIT HIM.
HIS TROOPS WOULD HAVE NONE OF IT AND UPON OLD ABES' NATURAL DEMISE, HE WAS MOUNTED AND PRESIDES OVER THE STATE LEGISTLATOR
WELL, ER, A COPY OF HIM, AS THE CAPITAL BURNED TO THE GROUND, IN 1909.
MY DESIGN FOR "OLD ABE" ON THE STATES COMMEMORATIVE QUARTER WAS SIMPLE,
A LEGENDARY STATE SYMBOL
'PERCHED ON A CIVIL WAR CANNON,
OUTLINED BY THE UNIQUE
SHAPE OF OUR STATE.
WHEN SOME ARCHEOLOGIST PULL'S A COIN OUT OF THE RUBBLE IN 2 THOUSAND YEARS, AND INVESTGATES THE MEANING OF THIS PLACE CALLED WISCONSIN, IT WILL INSPIRE WONDER AND THOUGHT. WE DID ACHIEVE THAT IN THE END.
WE PICKED A HUNK OF CHEESE
summer of 2006
public art event city of janesville
fiberglass 1957 chevy bel airs
subject matter for little fiberglass cars were a perfect match to our auto heritage / culture.
The '57 chevy is a true American icon and it was produced right here in Janesville.
Ten years later I produced my own homage to our history with
The "Janesville Circut" Mural
My three contributions were...
" See the USA in your Chevrolet "
a classic ad campaign slogan from the 50's seemed
to fit the bill
sponsored by Combs Surveying
exhibited at the Corn exchange - janesville
purchased by
private party at auction
"Storm Chaser "
sponsored by channel 27 madison
exhibited at one parker place/courthouse hill
purchased by private party
" Baseball, Apple Pie & Chevrolet "
In 1957 the Milwaukee Braves also won the world series. So Forward Janesville had some fun with this old advertising slogan I suggested.
sponsored by Forward Janesville
exhibited at Forward Janesville Buildiing
purchased by
GM/UAW
summer of 2005 quit my graphics job ran away and joined the circus...
the FAST Corp. circus
had the pleasure of doing the backdrop for my daughters middle school play
daughter alivia as "deborah sue"
with
"conrad birdie"
summer 2007
racine wisconsin public art project
gala
opening
6. 2 .07 at "wingspread" frank lloyd wright design for
sam johnson home in racine
pirate theme opening party
myself with ill gotten booty
"smooth sailing"
going with the "less is more" thought
I did a simple blue sky cloud formation,
with a little red in the clouds
"red at night, sailers delight"
TOWN
SQUARE
a facility for people with cognitive and physical disabilities. focusing on Independent living, commissioned me in 2007 to convert a large , inner building space into the
a series of existing windows and doors
lead to seperate activity rooms
Riverfront,
coffee shop
restrooms have been transformed to
downtown janesville's transportationcenter
the Sweetshop
candy store
completedin january
2008
How to get to madeline
take a boat
take the car ferry
or
holly marie tourdot
artist, painter
singer
shaman
fruitcake
friend
gallery owner,
has given me the month of august to exhibit at her gallery. Imagine . I want to show images of the island and people here. Reminds me of my time in Florida Keys, only much colder.
profanity pro
studio/gallery right off water
Madeline Island is in the beautiful apostle island chain in Lake Superior.
Superior is the second largest body of fresh water in the world.
it's only town is La Pointe, Wisconsin. it is the only publicly inhabited island in the chain
250 crazy souls stay year round
Holly is one of those souls.
tom'stwice - burned down cafe
brief sampling of words of wisdom at tom's
swim like hell
Mural on City Municipal Building march 2010
actually was painted on 24 x 30" canvas , then transferred to weather resistant material. Subject matter was Janesville Grit and Railroad foundation to City's growth. Only thing I did not like was strict adherence to someone else's design. I did a dozen of my own but oh well.
Was hung up for about 5 years.
commissioned work
Mercy Health Systems
Mercy Clinic East - Pediatric Floor/Main Floor
commissioned to interpet two award winning student artworks
then translate into large acrylic paintings.
other student artwork incorporated into ceramic tiles
surrounding pediatric waiting room
JANUARY 6th - FEBRUARY 9th
milwaukee wi
Hope to post finished images of Blossom out to pasture soon
the art bar on burleigh st.
the main entrance from outside and administrative offices leads into what becomes the first activity room.
Bye, Bye, Birdie
Hank Aaron catching an Apple Pie
Old County Stadium on front hood
Baseball Headlights- standard equipment
Keeping with the local theme,I painted a ballpark add to replicate another Janesville icon
the 1957 Parker Pen ads
has it all. tornadoes, snow storms,lightning, quarter moon hub caps!
this was a last minute addition to my two other cars.
in my studio waiting for paint
the movie theatre
this is where audio/ visual
equipment is stored
a play on words
homage to the marlon brando classic
On The Waterfront
MERCY HOSPITAL
Janesville WI
gave a generous donation for this project so it was only
right to have a clinic in the town square
MADELINE ISLAND madness
august 2009
visit
work in studio
various projects. indoor murals. different art related experiences . people, places. videos.
This is a little hard to hear in the beginning, due to wind.
At one point I have to hold on to the canvas to prevent from flying away.
But hang in there as I seem to find delight in just saying
masonic lodge....at the end
Video to the left is graphic in audio. I was painting right in front of the large green building in the backround. Downrange I might ad. As a witness I spent the next 5 hours in a suspended animation of police, media and sadly the family. The next day while tring to finish work I was driven around by Dept of Justice people. If a picture could talk.
Town Square
This is Blossom
Blossom was painted in 2021
after a quarter century
in the outdoor, Sun and elements,
she needed a restoration.
Commissioned in Summer of 2025.
I painted after repair was done to fiberglass.
I was commissioned to turn a large , bland building into something more suitable to Riverfronts mission of providing a safe, fun and inviting space. They came up with the idea of turning it into a little village, a town square in that village.
I was employed at the time as a care giver for Community Connections.
As the building was occupied, it came in handy that I could work at night
...The Beauty Shop
In progress next to Mercy Hospital Clinic
Towards the East rear entry / exit doors and drinking fountains
Theme was Racine's Iconic Lighthouse, not far from the Estate
Photo courtesy of Pat Sparling Photagraghy
Commission for Sugar Exchange. Downtown Janesville. Sweet selfie spot!
W. Milwaukee St.
aLIVIa
commissioned outdoor 4 x 8 mural for Serious Packer fan. Title (town) after Lombardi's famous quote...
What the hells going on here?
wonderful restrooms
I've exhibited and sold at...
sorry, too funny to resist
Great place in Riverwest neighborhood
free parking around the corner
Speaking of Milwaukee. Few of us Layton School of Art Alumni around. Now MIAD. Met up with Gary Gandy at Beloit Art Center show.
VIDEOS
Evansville plein air event. Painted there many times and this was interview on the street. Behind me was the magical art windmills they had for years on the street.
This is a video done by JATV IN 2018. it was recorded at the Women's Club, Janesville,WI. Janesville Art League also meets' here and has a great gallery upstairs, Works going back over 100 years.
My hour long talk, was about my career as an artist, but more specifically concerning my Janesville auto mural just down the road. since then I have completed 5 addional murals in Janesvill, Jefferson and Evansville.
