My Favorite Tequilas

The Obsession

Miranda's Obsession
Title: Miranda’s Obsession
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 22″ x 28″
Buy Print: ($345)
Buy Original: N/A

I’ve been asked many times what drove me to paint “Miranda’s Obsession.” Miranda works at Super Cuts, and cuts my hair. (Okay, no hair jokes.) She has many piercings and is covered with tattoos. One day I asked about the one on her left arm, and she told me of the HUGE expense it took to get it there. The tattoo is Alice In Wonderland with a twist. Days later, I had the thought of doing a tequila painting that included her arm raising a nice snifter of fine tequila, and the tequila that came to mind is the luscious Los Azulejos anejo in the Picasso bottle. My thought was: art meets art. The painting begs the question: what is her obsession, the tattoos, or the tequila? You can provide your own answer. Miranda’s Obsession was a stretch for me, and a fun challenge.

Just Give Me a Reason…

Several months ago, I was privileged to hang my series of tequila prints in Los Dos Molinos in Mesa. John, the general manager there, recently asked if I would be willing to offer some prints for sale in another restaurant. Of course I said, “yes,” and found that he owns La Ristra in Gilbert, Arizona, a “cousin” restaurant to Los Dos. I drove directly to La Ristra and spoke with his son (also John) and found that it was not only a restaurant, but a tequila bar and tequila club with nearly 600 members! During our conversation over what prints to hang, John told me that the bartender’s   nine-month-old daughter was fighting cancer of the kidney. John told me the restaurant was donating 15% of the dinner receipts on June 2 to the family. He asked if I would consider putting a giclée print into a raffle to help the family cover medical expenses. I didn’t even have to think about it. My wife and I also participated in the dinner with several of our friends, and were happy to see that the restaurant was very busy.

A wise woman once told me that things happen for a reason. I’m thrilled and humbled that my artwork might bring some help to a family and a beautiful little girl named Raeya.

Miranda’s Obsession

Title: Miranda’s Obsession
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 22″ x 28″
Buy Print: ($345)
Buy Original: N/A

Number 11 in the series “My Favorite Tequilas,” Miranda’s Obsession features beautiful tattoos with an Alice In Wonderland theme, complimented by a hand painted bottle of Los Azulejos Anejo. The tatoos were a challenge, but worth every minute.

Thank you to Miranda for serving as the inspiration for this work.

Good Things Come in Pairs

The Perfect Pair
Title: The Perfect Pair
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 12″ x 16″
Buy Print: ($150)
Buy Original: N/A

Still working on the series, “My Favorite Tequilas…” I just finished two commission pieces for some special friends, one of which is titled “The Perfect Pair” now displayed in my Acrylic Gallery. The companion piece (not shown) is of the KAH añejo, and is a black-and-white, hand-painted, ceramic bottle. Both symbolize the Mexican tradition of celebrating the dead, or “Dia de Los Muertos.” These paintings were especially significant to me, as I had the great privilege of performing these folks’ wedding. The black bottle painting includes the book of the ceremony and their vows. The title “The Perfect Pair” really refers to these friends, but has multiple meanings: the two paintings, the two tequiilas, and the two shots of blanco Tequila in “The Perfect Pair.”

I continue to be amazed and impressed with the uniqueness of tequila bottles, the stories they tell, and the beautiful hand painting that many of them possess. Each one is a new challenge in a different way, and keeps me striving to improve my work. Hope you enjoy them.