The Lost Shaker of Salt

Sharpie, Acrylics on Canvas, 121.92x91.44x3.81 cm; 2.70 kg

48x36x1.5 in; 6.0 lbs

It’s not difficult to create something unique. It is, however, difficult to create something unique that other people will like. And harder yet is convincing those people to buy it. But if the goal isn’t money, or even other people's admiration, this task becomes easier. Not only that but you can start to explore the mind of the artist. This was something I grappled with throughout this work. 

I don’t know what you are seeing when you look at this. It’s estimated that the average museum goer takes less than 30 seconds viewing each work of art. I’d have to imagine the average browser takes about the same amount of time (or less). Except maybe my Mom, but she’s more into my landscape paintings. Maybe you were drawn to the colors, seeing how it all connects and flows together. Maybe it was the big black bold lettering at the very top that drew your eye, and then you went on to read some of the nonsense. I’m sure a few of you were drawn to the doodles and stick figures. But it’s impossible to see everything in one picture. The sides are littered with more of the same; even the back’s been marked up. And that’s okay. 

While I hope all of my art elicits some sort of response from you, I know for certain how much joy it brings me to go back in time, and remember creating this piece. I’ll leave you with an anecdote that hopefully helps explain the work a bit better: 

There is a rather famous song by the late Jimmy Buffett (and Alan Jackson, and George Strait) that speaks of the legend of The Lost Shaker of Salt. A tale passed down from generation to generation, often written off as myth. Until that fateful day, I too thought it was just lore. Something silly to sing about in a song. I don’t think I even recognized it for what it was worth, overshadowed (ironically) by the sentiment of, “never forgetting how small you are”. But as I was reviewing my work, I saw it, and realized something… I could never actually sell this painting. At least not yet. The only person I felt worthy of housing this artifact would be Mr. Buffett, a man I had never met, nor knew anything about, besides a few of his songs. This was after all, THE Lost Shaker of Salt. Something this man so desperately wanted to find he wrote an entire song about. He even became famous in further pursuit of this true dream. Why we were cosmically connected on that day I’ll never know, but unfortunately he passed away less than a year later before I was able to give it to him. While his estate is still welcome to this piece, I feel the timing is now apropos to offer this opportunity to the world.