Defining "Impossible" Art.

"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it.

Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion.
Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare.
Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary.
Impossible is nothing."

-Muhammad Ali

A lot of people who have seen my art have asked me about the specifics of this piece. To them, the quote is self-explanatory (although many doubt it’s inherent truth), but it always comes down to: Why wrestlers? Especially showcasing a quote made by a famous boxer. Well sports fans, let me enlighten you.

Art has always been a very personal thing to me. Most works would generally take hours to complete. And when they were done, they were almost like children to me. This made most of my work: A) Too expensive for the average person to buy. B) Me, unwilling sell it in the first place, or BOTH. This resulted in most of my art (when I had time to do it) being done for, well….me!

So, when I’d see art or a poster that inspired me, I’d simply take hold of that notion and make something of my own. Something that suited my tastes or represented something I found inspirational. I’d never really considered if what I did made sense to anyone else. I guess because I would generally be next to them to answer questions if-and-when anyone ever saw it.

This was the case with “Impossible is Nothing”

A few years ago, I had gone down to my best friend’s basement gym. And he had shown me an old Adidas poster he had found featuring Muhammad Ali, and the quote you see above. Now I’ve always respected Ali, but this quote blew me away. To me, the quote held a great truth followed by an indisputable call-to-action. WOW!. I was so impressed my friend had offered to give me the poster. But I had told him “That’s O.K., I’ll make my own”.

So I set out to find some inspirational figures of my own. I didn’t have to look very far. The “Attitude Era” of the WWE was in full swing. And since the ages-old veil of secrecy concerning wrestling being scripted (not “fake”) had been lifted, fans were given an unprecedented opportunity to see what these guys go through to put on a show. And the more I learned, the more I felt they were the most inspirational people in sports AND entertainment, and here’s a few reasons why.

There is no “off” season in professional wrestling. They work 300+ days a year (mostly away from home), and often work with/through injuries they suffer during shows (whether they are “working” on T.V. or not). Despite that, very few make nearly the money your average NFL or NBA star does.

Most manage to stay in incredible physical shape, despite not having access to their hometown gym, and having to eat on-the-road (How’d you eat last time you traveled?). You can’t really even blame age, since the three in my painting are all in their 30s and 40s. In light of that, what is our excuse to not be moderately fit? Considering our set work schedules, being surrounded by our loved ones, and having a label on everything we pull from our fridge.

And lastly, most of superstars in the WWE (the ones in my painting included) worked and suffered YEARS before finding their way to the big lights, and TV cameras of the WWE. They took the same beatings, chair shots, and falls in high school gymnasiums in front of 10-15 people as they do in front of millions now on TV and Pay-Per-Views.

They enjoy the limelight now, because they believed in themselves, and what they were doing. They may have lost hope, from time to time, but they NEVER gave up.

And to me, That’s all the inspiration anyone could ever ask for.

For custom-sized posters, framed prints, or canvas prints of "Impossible is Nothing" visit My Print Gallery at Fine Art America.

And if there's a movie, book, or one of my art works you'd like me to blog about, feel free to drop me an email, or leave a comment below. Thanks

The Art of the Saints.

“Oh Lord, raise me to thy right hand and count thee among thy saints.”

-Noah "Il Duce" MacManus, Boondock Saints

The Boondock Saints is a 1999 crime drama, set in modern-day Boston. It was also the inspiration for this addition to my art gallery.

The film follows two Irish brothers (played by Sean Patrick Flannery, and Norman Reedus), who experience a religious epiphany, and set out to rid the fair city of Boston of crime and evil. All the while, being hunted by the Mob, and FBI agent Paul Smecker (Willem Dafoe).

This movie IS one of my favorites (obviously, since I liked it well enough to put into art). But it is also one of those movies you have to see. If for no other reason than to understand what all of the fuss (justifiably) is about.

This movie had a 5 theater release in 1999 (which lasted 1 week). This was due to the Senate Judiciary committee’s crackdown on “violent” movies, in the wake of the Columbine School shootings. The amazing thing is; the cult following actually started on video!.

A few folks saw the little black, unassuming case at their local video store, and decided to take a chance. THEN, most of them, told everyone they knew that they HAD to see this movie (I did this, just so I could talk about it with somebody!). Next thing you know fansites started popping up. And the avalanche of popularity has been rolling ever since.

The DVD had eventually become SO popular, that it’s support had earned a theatrical release on May 22^nd 2006, with later screenings being funded by Blockbuster Video itself. The “people” had apparently spoken.

Personally, I’ve never seen anything like it. Several years ago, my girlfriend had bought me a Boondock Saints t-shirt (when they were still hard to find), and I’d never met so many new people in public in my life. Complete strangers were coming up to me starting conversations, touching my shirt, and asking questions. I assume this must be how pregnant women feel when they’re showing.

Theaters and t-shirts aside, I LOVE THIS DVD. It has a few must-see deleted scenes (mom calls from Ireland), and the commentary has a lot to offer as well. I’d gotten a kick out of writer/director Troy Duffy saying, a reason he’d cast Ron Jeremy was because he knew people would recognize him, and never discuss "how", they knew him. HeeHee…Classic.

The sequel left alot to be desired (most sequels do). I guess it’s important to see the next step, But it lacked the heart of the first one. It’s like what I’d told a girl in Subway the other day (I was wearing another Saints shirt), “If you want to see the next chapter, rent All Saint’s Day. If you want to see a great movie like Boondock Saints, watch Suicide Kings.”

So, bottom line : Buy Boondock Saints… Rent (or borrow) The sequel… See Suicide Kings (you may buy this one too...I did).

To buy autographed, limited edition 11 x 14 prints of "Brothers, Killers, and Saints" (shown above) -visit my eBaY seller. For custom-sized Art prints and cards visit My Print Gallery at Fine Art America. And for signed, hand-painted originals, go to Affordable Art Gallery

POP! goes the Art Blog

Art has always fascinated me. It’s a huge part of who I am...who I’ve always been. And in light of the last thirty years, The chances of it leaving my life now, is pretty slim.

Movies, music, and books have also played a major role in my life. They have entertained me, inspired me, and have given me comfort in times when the “real” world has left me low.

So I guess it only stands to reason that I should combine them here, on my blog. Insights, entertainment reviews, and my art will be the main focus. But Lord only knows what else I might find for our enjoyment.

I think everyone has an “art” within them. Maybe not the pencil-to-paper kind of art most people think of. But a magic within, that enables them to do something (with seemingly little effort) better than anyone else around.

"Art" comes in many forms. Pop Art seems to have chosen me, but that doesn’t mean we can’t find yours together.

But in the meantime, thank you for stopping by to share mine with me.

With that being said…Welcome! I look forward to your visits. Feel free to direct your questions and comments below. And...

I'll see ya soon.

For 11x14 limited, autographed editions of "Pop Art Vader" (shown above) visit my Ebay seller. or for custom prints and cards, visit my print gallery at Fine Art America