souvenirs

2003
korean egg tempera & permanent marker on arches cold press
32" x 50"

the idea behind this painting was that you can take the same kind of vacation in two different places and return home with completely different memories from each. when i was a junior in high school, my parents and i went on a ski trip to lake tahoe, then spent a few days in san francisco. i still remember the spectacular views from the ski slopes, the mild california weather and gambling underage in reno. the state flower of california is the poppy, and there were poppies everywhere, which is why there are poppies featured in the lower half of this painting. the top half features an abstract depiction of knee surgery; the following year, my parents and i went skiing in zermatt, switzerland. that trip was miserable. our skis got lost in transit from germany, i got knocked down by a drunk skier, and then i had a terrible accident during which i tore the ACL and meniscus in my left knee. i've had two surgeries since then, so switzerland carries a certain stigma for me. but i still ski, of course.