Details of a wall in my studio. These paintings are some of the earliest ones I made after moving to LA. Circa 1993. A copy of the famous Laocoon ancient marble sculpture, and an image from a classic film noir. They're both on the dark side. I've learned not to ignore this dimension, nor pretend that it doesn't exist. Murder is as real as dancing and singing in the sunlight. We saw that in Israel over the last few days. Alexis's son, Tyler, is being called to return to his unit. They live in the Golan Heights, but the rest of the family is in Buffalo, where her father just died. Such unusual timing. "Dad died so we wouldn't have to," Alexis told Dante yesterday. Her family of four boys and husband escaped the horrific slaughter that took place south of their home. People comment on the negative quality of much of my art. Not all of it, but a significant portion deals with sorrow, disappointment, and pain. But there are times when portraying any other emotion would be highly inapproprate, and offensive. I paint to celebrate joyful moments, but also to remember tragic ones.