Art Notes

There are certain truths we all eventually come to recognize when considering life and observing the general travails of family. First, it is to be expected that as we age, we eventually “become our parents,” acting both painfully eccentric and joyfully oblivious to those things around us. It is a rite of passage as real as any other maturity gained. Secondly, it is equally apparent that, given time, most fathers eventually become “goofy,” or so it was with my own dad. Somehow becoming a father inspired a craziness in him and an unfortunate willingness to try activities beyond his capacity to carry out. I paint my latest canvas with him in mind and as homage to the zaniness of Disney’s Goofy, a character portrayed as a father himself.

Beyond the good nature of Mickey Mouse and the hot temper of Donald Duck is the well-intended chaos of Goofy, often created at a cost to his own son, Max. Whether it is on a road trip, a fishing excursion, or a stop at a roadside attraction, you can safely bet Goofy’s “dad inclinations” will kick in, and a clumsy catastrophe will ensue. Still, as with most fathers, it is hard not to love Goofy even in the face of the mayhem he causes. So, it is with his son Max and other sons like him. I hope you enjoy my work on “The Goofy Movie,” and it inspires you to give your father a hug; he deserves it! As always, thank you for sharing my adventures in art.