There’s all of them together. I made a conscious effort to focus on quality over quantity in 2023 and I hope that’s coming through. I made far fewer paintings by choice and instead gave each more effort and meaning, whether in the piece or for me as the person making them.
Now let’s break them out a bit by subject matter:
This was my collection of paintings focusing on LGTBQ athletes, putting some good energy in the world through excellence and representation. Boxer Pat Manuel noted that this painting was one of the most important things to happen to him this year, which is something that I’ll treasure forever.
These are the five paintings I’ve made so far for my Emotion Series, where I’m exploring how I experience emotions as a person with PTSD and Reactive Attachment Disorder. Easily the most important work I’ve made on a very personal level and I feel some of the best overall work of my career to date.
My hope is that when I finish the 11 paintings in the collection that they can be used to bring awareness especially to adults with RAD and spur further research on how people with this disorder can be professionally helped. Sounds lofty, and it is, but a painting led to what we now know as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and the research from that has given me the tools I use now on a daily basis. If some day these paintings can provide the same sort of help the way making them is helping me, that would be incredible.
A few ink and watercolor paintings from photos I took during our stay in Hawaii last January. I had a tough 2023 on a lot of levels, but that week there brought me a lot of peace and making these paintings extended that peace. It was delightful to just make paintings for the joy of making them, y’know?
And there’s all the rasslin’ paintings. Seeing them all together like this I realize I was in my cool color era this year. Lots of blues and purples. Funny the things that jump out at you. And that Roman Reigns painting has been viewed by nearly two million people on Instagram. Hooray for the color blue!
So, yeah, there you go. Less paintings, more meaning behind them. With how busy it’s been setting up the Schamberger Labs Art Fulfillment Center and handling all of the orders from WWE Shop, in hindsight I’m doubly glad I reduced my creative output because I don’t know that I could have stayed on top of all of this.
Thank you for inviting my art into your life and for your support in allowing me to continue making it for you. I’m excited about what I’ll make for you in 2024!
Love you more,
Rob