This is another of the pieces I recently completed for the Circus Show opening this weekend at the Alcove gallery in Atlanta, or I guess Decatur to be more precise. Let's just say "metro Atlanta" and leave it at that shall we?

Anyhoo, this here painting is of course based on Grant Wood's American Gothic. If you're not familiar with it, how dare you call yourself an artist, you no good dirty bastard? It's only one of the most famous American paintings ever! Jeez!

I had plans for this one ever since I did Supper at Sea and saw how well the whole spoofing a famous piece of artwork went over. Some might call it ripping off someone else's idea, but you'd be wrong, because I'm a genius. When the theme came up for the circus show this one seemed like a natural. After all, this painting and the circus are both kinda like down home Americana. Both remind me of tough times times in the early part of the 20th century. But I'm getting too serious, so...FARTS! There we go...

The dog faced boy was a no-brainer for the old man, but in my early sketches, the woman was going to be a pinhead, like in the old movie "Freaks". But I thought that might be a little too creepy for what I had intended as a light hearted funny piece. Next idea was a mermaid, but we only see her from the waist up, so that would be ridiculous! Then I figured, "why bother with a real freakshow style freak and just make her a cyclops!" and the rest of it all fell together.

And oh yeah, I realize the old guy looks kinda like a wookie.

18" x 22" acrylic on canvas

Things I learned from this painting:

1) DON'T but the cheapest gesso you can find! I had some gesso that my Mom had given me and used it for the first time on this canvas. After I transfered the sketch and began my initial wash to seal the graphite on I realized that the graphite was just washing right off! I had to re-transfer the whole thing!

2) I have a hard time with caucasian skin tones. They're hard to make look right! What is it with us honkys? Too many damn colors in our skins, that's what! African skin tones are much easier to mix and blend and they look all rich and creamy! I guess if I had taken more painting classes when I was in art school I would have learned all about skin tones. They eventually turned out OK, but still look a little cartoony to me. Good thing I'm a cartoonist! Just something I'm gonna have to work on.

3)When painting flat on a table, make sure the paint is dry before accidentally rubbing your hand all in it and smearing it in places it doesn't belong.