carved walnut, automotive paints, resin
30 ” x 30” x 3”
2023

Last Nov i was in Miami showing my work at CONTEXT  i met a woman who appreciated my work and we got about high photo class, and she shared how her favorite pic of her was taken by her photo teacher and still had it. I have a way of making friends wherever i go, and we kept in touch at one point she sent me the photo and gave me the right to use it in a piece. I after the better part of a year i have this work to show you. Again im stretching to learn new materials and processes. Summer of Youth is carved out of walnut that is painted with pearled white with a metal flake over a warm white pearl. Its topped off with what folks in the hot rod industry call a glamour or show clear that of course is cut and buffed to a magic glass. After the carving, i oiled the wood with walnut oil and tung oils on the “frame”.

I got the title thinking about how our sr year in high school is sorta the last moments of “youth”. It’s the brightest warmest moments before we move to our next stage of life and start “adulting” full-time. And of course, it’s a big nod to Ms Love's lyric.