We Are All Brothers, 2012

I enjoy using traditional sign painting materials, paint and methods to make art. This painting was painted entirely with Sign Painters One Shot, the all time best oil based high gloss enamel for painting signs. It was done on MDO board, which me...

I enjoy using traditional sign painting materials, paint and methods to make art. This painting was painted entirely with Sign Painters One Shot, the all time best oil based high gloss enamel for painting signs. It was done on MDO board, which means Medium Density Overlay. Back when all signs were painted, the separation of the plywood wood grain was problematic. So they took brown paper bag paper from a giant roll, and saturated it with epoxy, and rolled it onto the two sides of the sign plywood under great pressure. The result is called MDO signboard. That is what many of my paintings are painted on, including this one. I adore Kanji, although I cannot read it, I draw them carefully and paint them. I have a book about learning to paint Kanji, and it contains a lengthy section of ancient Chinese poems and proverbs, and the kanji symbols communicating these sayings. Also, I enjoy pinstriping on panels very much, so this piece unifies a number of different motifs and materials dear to me. This poem is such a positive message.