Emcee

In late summer or early fall of 2025 I saw a meme about the struggle of going from Brat Summer to Fascism Fall. Someone commented that’s the plot of Cabaret  and an idea was planted. This piece has several core challenges, both expected and unexpected. There were the opposing lights with wildly different temperatures and hues, the rough knit vest, the harsh contrast between his red hair and the jaunty little green hat (expected), and the black leather gloves against a black background (unexpectedly difficult, almost threw in the towel multiple times). But once I was finished and took a step back I felt the strange tension between the stark colors, his serious expression, and the very silly pose and cute little hat. Which is the exact space that the Emcee exists in for the show Cabaret, and honestly the space I was feeling like I inhabited in the transition from Brat Summer to Fascism Fall.

Collection Details:

Little Oil Paintings is an ongoing collection of handmade original art works. Each 8x10 canvas board set in a very simple white mat and black frame. My intention with this collection is to allow myself to explore and experiment artistically while still staying true to a very simple presentation.  Each piece is a visual riddle. Sometimes it was a challenge in light, or color, or emotion that made me ask myself “Can I pull this off?” Every painting in this collection represents a victorious “Yes”.