LITTLE Beards

Ah, I couldn’t sleep last night so I went out for my morning walk at 4AM this morning. (Today’s post is a continuation from last Friday).

Last Monday when I got back from Griffith Park after finishing Just Kids, I came home and I wrote. Afterwards, I found myself feeling uncertain. What was I supposed to do with my art? I didn’t doubt the work I had done, but rather I felt unclear of my next steps. It had been a couple of weeks since I painted or photographed. Creatively, I felt raw and vulnerable.

After writing, this is what happened: Many years ago, I painted a tiny acrylic doodle of a purple bearded lady. Randomly, she to came to mind. I pulled the piece from out of the closet and I placed it near my painting table. I then opened up my Keith Haring book from the Whitney Museum (1997) and I flipped through a few pages. Still unsure, I then realized that I had a bunch of unfinished paintings stored in a red suitcase; I pulled out these pieces, my paintbrushes and some paint. I started painting little bearded ladies.

For the next 8 hours, I painted. There was joy and magic. The pieces were raw, simple, and colorful. I loved them! I’m calling this NEW series LITTLE Beards. They are a symbol of feeling weird, freakish and different; it’s a beautiful thing! (Important Note to Remember: Keep them simple and don’t overwork them).

The 3 images here are examples of my 'new' LITTLE Beards. For now, I’m keeping them all Untitled.



(Just this Friday, I received my authorized biography of Keith Haring. 100 pages in, and it’s been mind-blowing. I feel so grateful for this newfound inspiration; it’s just what I needed… to be continued (again)…


Enjoy LIFE!