I started working on this series in 2008. I personally contact the artist (I send out letters Snail Mail) I ask them to send the pair of shoes that best represents them. The number of positive responses that I've received so far pleasantly surprises me. Some of the shoes are sent back but many of them have allowed me to keep them. I now have a wire in my studio with over 50 pairs of shoes strung up above my easel. The growing number correspondence, ephemera and photo's that I've collected has become an additional point of interest. Every day I look forward to going to the mailbox to see who has responded. I plan on putting together a book chronicling the portrait's correspondence and contributing artists as a way for people to discover these great artists on their own. I plan on developing this series the rest of my life.
Shoes speak volumes about who we are
After time they develop a character all their own.
This series is about paying homage to a variety of contemporary artists worldwide and being able to connect with them personally. Creating art is my greatest purpose, yet it can become isolating. This series gives me the opportunity to connect with other artists all over the world. To date I have painted over 100 shoe portraits of both world renowned and obscure artists who's work I personally love. Including: Jamie Wyeth, John Baldessari, Ed Ruscha, Jenny Holzer, Mark Hogancamp, Ann Hamilton and Billy Childish and the list keeps growing.