EPITAPH

EPITAPH
Originally uploaded by rsconnett

EPITAPH: Definition; "A statement written about the death of a person. Often an inscription on a tombstone."

This is a commissioned painting. The collector asked me to paint a human skull. Other than that, he gave me complete freedom with the piece.

As I painted, and thought what to paint, I began contemplating death. and my mind drifted to the death of not just myself, but of all things. All the life that has lived and died. The life that has become extinct on Earth. All the deaths that mankind has caused and continues to cause.

We are NOW experiencing the biggest mass extinction the world has ever known*. We lose thousands of species each year. This is a fact linked directly to man.

We are crowding everything off this planet as though we could exist alone. I'm talking about plants, animals, insects, reptiles … fungus, you name it. We will eventually be included in the list. Think not?

This is not some 'Hippie Bullshit'. This is real. We are killing the earth. The greatest minds on the planet agree that we are closer to annihilation than we have ever been.

Read "THE ASSAULT ON REASON" by Al Gore. Read "THE WORLD WITHOUT US" by Alan Weisman ... Read "HEGEMONY OR SURVIVAL" by Noam Chomsky. These are not mad men. The mad men run the world from behind closed doors and enslave us with superficial entertainments.

Your religion will not save you. Your government will not save you! Your TV, Computer, stereo surround sound home entertainment system will not save you! (or me) It's TOO LATE!

I have believed these things since I was a teenager. I have been saying this for decades and writing about it for decades ... And yet, instead of devoting my life to REALLY doing something about it, I've thought more about my own personal life, and how I might best live through this. I have been a 'dilettante' (a person who cultivates an area of interest without real commitment or knowledge) when it comes to my commitment to the life on our world.

I have contributed more then most to the demise of our species. I have chosen to live a life of comfort while I fully understand the implications of my choices. I suppose that makes me more guilty than those persons who really don't know what's about to happen.

Meanwhile, those who hold the true reigns of power continue to suck the world dry, including me and YOU, so that they might live like the GODS whom they do not believe in.

Watch the movie "ZEITGEIST" (http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/)

I have enjoyed the fruits of this planet, and had to pay little for my pleasures.(as of yet) It is young people who will pay. The things I have seen and experienced are already gone. I remember clear waters filled with native fish in forests filled with giant trees. These things are gone now, replaced with our garbage and shit. What is left is fenced in for the enjoyment of the few who control us.

I believe that the human race will not go our in a blast, but in slow and painful agony. I feel bad for you who do not know what the world was like before we destroyed it. All I can do now is continue to paint and write. The only contribution to sanity that I have made to this planet is my art and my thoughts.

I see little hope. However, you may disagree. After all, the first stage of the enlightenment of grim reality is denial. Some people, perhaps most, do not move beyond this stage. They will die still not believing that we all committed suicide.

RS ~ 2/20/2008

* One exception might be a pre-historic meteor hit that caused a ' nuclear winter', attributed to causing the extinction of the dinosaurs.

God's Half Brother

God's Half Brother
Originally uploaded by rsconnett

12 X 16" Acrylic on Canvas. January 2008.

I'm fascinated by structures in nature of decay and rejuvenation. Rebirth from a hibernation. The cycles of nature in the raw. I am fascinated by the way man strives to mimic nature in order to fulfill aspirations to become what we perceive as God.
I am frustrated by our inability to express things of importance through our language.
The possibilities of augmenting life so as to prolong it. The mixing of organic life created in Nature, and man's attempts to build similar structures in machine forms. This gives me hope, for I dread that death is nonexistence.
I am enamored of our reinvention of science.
I am at a loss at the realization that it is to late to avoid the coming cataclysms in nature. The death of the world as I have known it.
These are some of the ideas that inspire the images I paint.
It is a self portrait.


This painting began as a projection of a small drawing I'd done in 2004 which I called 'BRAIN ANGEL' I used a projector and sketched the 'Brain Angel' image on a blue-white surface.
I then used the basic structure of the old drawing to expand upon and bring forth new ideas.
This is how I often paint. I see 'things within things' and follow them. Like Alice following the rabbit down a hole, I pursue my visual ideas. Spontaneous, yet also influenced by my conscious thoughts. Not of what I am painting, but thoughts that float through my mind during the perfect state of 'flow' that I achieve while painting for many hours.
I continue to use a very limited palate; BLUE, PURPLE, BURNT SIENNA & WHITE. The blacks you see are these colors mixed. In this piece I added some VIOLET.

SPINAL TOTEM TATTOO

SPINAL TOTEM TATTOO
Originally uploaded by rsconnett

Acrylic on canvas ~ Size: 12 X 24" (30.5 x 60.9 cm) Completed in December 2007
This is a commission for a TATTOO, (and a painting). In the beginning I was hesitant. However, it has turned out to be a VERY interesting piece! It's painted to form along the spine of the collectors back. ( a 'back piece") I'm anxious to see what this will look like when it is actually on his body! (I will upload a picture of that when I have it)
I have never considered doing Tattoo design before. However, I had such an excellent time designing this one, I would gladly take on another assignment. The nice thing is the person who commissions something like this gets a TATTOO and a PAINTING! This looks wonderful as a painting on my wall.
Although this tattoo is done for my collectors use only as a tattoo, I will be selling mounted giclee prints with hand painted boarders which look exactly like the original painting. If you would like to discuss doing a tattoo/painting contact me at http://www.VOMITUS.com.

About my art

To make Art is a basic, instinctive need for the human animal. It pre-dates all language and civilization. Interesting that it is seldom an occupation that makes much money. Perhaps that is becuse we all can do it? It seemingly has no purpose other then to reach a deep yearning of the human spirit ... A deep yearning to 'create', to emulate our visions of God. We want to create our own worlds, just like God. We can not command the seas to rise or the mountains to move ... but we can draw them any way we wish.

This need in us, so unique, is the basis of all the cultures of the Earth. All that man has accomplished, the domination of the planet, all has it's basis in or need to create art.

What shall I call my art? The works I've done have been classified by others as "Outsider", "Surreal, "Low Brow" "Psycho-Representational" All I can tell you is I attempt to illustrate my ideas. So perhaps you should call me an 'Idea Illustrator'?

My art is the scratchings in pen, paint and words of a relatively normal man, living in quiet desperation, slowly going mad on my way to demise.

My art is collected for its beauty, intensity, strangeness and honesty. It’s the kind of art that you stare into, and see many things, including perhaps yourself. Your interpretation of this work is a direct reflection of who you are. It is art of many meanings to many people. It is a mirror. It is not 'ambient art'

Most of my work grows from a single stroke. It is spontaneous. My need to paint and draw began as, and remains a "catharsis". An unplanned way to express feelings and thoughts. Thus, It is not an intellectual process. Any intelligence found within these works comes from within the observer, not the creator.

You either feel my art, or you don't. If you feel it, take pleasure in it ... If you like it enough, you should buy it! It is how I make a living. I am unfit for any other occupation. So, I sincerely hope you will like it, and buy it, and live with it. Having 'ART' in your home is important. There is a huge difference in the quality of life between those who do, and those who do not. If you do not buy my art, I strongly suggest you buy someone else's. �