Detail, portrait of a bass player.

This portrait uses a variety of mixed media and collage. I found some great vintage magazines at a used bookstore in Villa Carlos Paz, Argentina. The feature story in one of the magazines was a huge earthquake which struck Cuzco, Peru in the early ’60′s. I used the photos from the story to create the legs.

The lower corners shows my continued fascination with pattern and texture. There are layers and layers of cut-out letters from the magazines and newspapers which I used to construct a floral pattern I took from vintage wallpapers. Next, I painted smaller version of the pattern on top.

For the longest time, I didn’t want to mount it, I thought I could make it in small sections so that I could easily bring it back to the U.S.

I had no plan when I started it. He just kept growing

I wanted sepia toned paper for the bass. I found an old book for 5 pesos at a street stand. As I worked on the piece I started reading the book. I’d read a page, then cut it up. Eventually I realized it would take too long to finish the piece this way, so I searched for the book on Amazon. Oddly, the book is called ‘Amazona’.

Turns out it is rare and out of print. Oops.

…at one point he looked a little like Richard Bona; I think it was just the hair. It was a short-lived resemblance but the name stuck and he came to life.