The Funky Monkey
When I discovered that a well-known bar/lounge in nearby Morristown was scheduled to be completely renovated, I located and introduced myself to Dave (the owner) and showed him some of my previous work. He was very interested in collaborating, and gave me artistic liberty. The name of his new venue was to be "The Funky Monkey", and the theme was obvious: a restaurant/bar/lounge featuring monkeys engaged in various festive situations. He was interested in having a painting hanging within a large, 4 ft x 9 ft recess in the exposed brick wall. He then showed me the palette he was using (lime green) throughout much of the restaurant. The painting would be hanging near a dance floor, and so it needed to be durable and resistant to damage. I prepared some sketches, and then began construction on the canvas. I chose a wood called "luan" which I primed numerous times and then re-enforced and framed with multiple strips of 2"x 2" oak to make it sturdy. The green color was necessary to match the surrounding trim and to create the festive, almost comical look that Dave was looking for. The finished piece features a large, orange monkey jamming on a saxophone. He appears to be floating within a matrix of swirls and shapes. Upon closer inspection, you will notice that the monkey is actually dancing on a table over numerous people laughing, cheering, and celebrating.

http://www.funkymonkeybar.com

The Muse
This piece actually began as a personal painting of Malta which I had started for myself. It captured a Mediterranean village, with two men fishing under the moon while a child plays with a dog in the foreground. It was upon entering The Muse Restaurant and Bar in Morristown, NJ that I met Yanni, the restaurant's owner, with whom I immediately began to discuss topics such as art, music, food, etc. His eclectic Greek restaurant played off the moon and sun themes, as he had a few such images on the wall. The restaurant has tall exposed-brick facades and a warm ambiance. It seemed like the perfect venue for a custom painting, and Yanni, himself and artist, agreed. I showed him the unfinished piece I was working on and, although he liked the direction, it clearly wasn't large enough to make a statement. It was Yanni's idea to create a second half to the painting, this time showing a daytime activity, such that the transition between the sun and moon can be captured in a single piece. I went home and sketched out a second half to the painting. "The Muse" had thus expanded into two individual paintings that fit perfectly together to create a single, panoramic view of a Greek setting. On the left, it is a beautiful Mediterranean day while a man is napping under a tree and dreaming of a woman holding a flower. On the right, you see the same man fishing at dusk while holding the same flower. It is obvious that his mind is still wrapped up in his dream. The finished product took the same shape as his brick wall and added character and color to this wonderful restaurant.

http://www.musenj.com

South City Grill
A hot new restaurant hit Morris County a few years back and featured live Latin Jazz and Salsa during dinner. I worked with the owner to create a painting that reflects the energy, tone and color of the restaurant. Visit the website here at: http://www.southcitygrill.com/

http://www.southcitygrill.com

Collection of Andy Burdzy
I started this commission after a young couple had seen the large piece I did for the Funky Monkey. They wanted something equally as large to occupy a bare wall in their contemporary home. After a number of sketches, they settled on an image centered around two people embracing each other amid a Parisian landscape in autumn. The Seine river separartes the profile of a man from the landscape, where the entire composition flows from his breath.

Working on this piece, I tried a lot of different techniques and took a much more physical approach. Aside from adding texture to most of the surface, much of the work is actually a collage. For example, the woman’s dress (although difficult to see on the computer) was made from patterned papers adhered to the canvas. The tree was also fabricated from layers of stained tissue paper. It was interesting to see how the different materials themselves actually dictated much of the painting's direction.

Medical Needs Foundation
In early 2005 I was approached by a young man who asked whether I would be willing to donate a painting toward a charity he was involved with. The painting would be auctioned off during a Gala Event, and the 100% of the proceeds would benefit the "Medical Needs Foundation". The MNF helps families and individuals facing overwhelming expenses due to chronic or catastrophic illness. I created a painting symbolizes how people navigate through the difficulties of life. The artwork identifies one's support base; their friends and family. Although it depicts a male and female embracing each other, the term "companion" can signify any aspect of your life which acts to support and guide you. It made sense for me to think of MNF in this way; as an extension of your family, a type of selfless energy that asks for nothing in return.

The Spring Gala is on Sat., April 23rd from 7:00 PM to midnight at the Rockaway River Country Club in Denville, NJ. Tickets are $75 (proceeds all go to MNF) and features food tastings by some of the best local restaurants, live entertainment, dancing and tantalizing prizes in our raffle and silent auction. See the attached invitation to find out more by visiting www.medicalneedsfoundation.org.