
In 2009, I decided to paint the Guggenheim each year for 20 years… this is #6…

As a reformed Madison Avenue Tribeca-Based Advertising business director, I confess — I’ve imagined myself as Don Draper… sitting cross-legged in a fine suit trendy jeans, sipping Wild Turkey ginger-ale, smoking a cigarette smiling, pitching the world’s finest campaign mollifying the procurement department…

As magic carpet ride that is Michael Jackson, Inc. continues, I find myself in Los Angeles. I’ve been dying to paint here, so I decided to spend a few days and find the best rooftop view in Los Angeles. Thanks to Joseph and the awesome team over at Perch, mission accomplished.

Introducing Antihero #4 — Tony Soprano. Where to begin? Not only are the Sopranos my favorite painting companions, the late James Gandolfini’s portrayal of Tony is one of the great character turns in history. I’ve watched the series start-to-finish ten times, and will continue to do so for years.

Sometimes that plein air comes a-callin’. Listen… always. A wonderful crew met at Sheep Meadow in Central Park on a beautiful Memorial Day to celebrate life. Here is what I painted.

It was back to Vegas… and this time, I decided to paint Insert Coins (which is so hot right now). It took three short sessions, one bloody finger and many adult beverages… but I got the job done.

If you walked into my collegiate apartment on Buswell Street in 2001, you’d find two images of Tony Montana on the wall. Scarface. All you have to do is say the word, and people understand. Okay? Al Pacino’s electric political refugee marks painting number two in my growing ‘Anti-Hero’ series.

Rewind to December, 2010. I recall pondering a portrait series, but found I had 99 problems and picking a portrait subject was one. As fate would have it, I decided to paint Jay Z, which lead to a series of hip hop stars nearly identical to Zack O’Malley Greenburg’s Cash Kings.