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Jam Session2006 Oil on linen 38.0" x 55.0" I borrowed the early 1920’s “Marx Merry Makers” tin toy, and the “Joe Penner” tin toy (based on the 1930’s vaudeville comedian) from a friend. Both had strong black and white elements, with lots of red and a bit of turquoise and yellow thrown in. I have a bunch of the black and white “Millie” and “Willie” Kool cigarette penguin salt and pepper shakers, so I decided an exercise in using limited colors with lots of high contrast black and white elements was in order. The mice are “jammin”, Minnie is dancin’ on the piano top, and Billie is singin’ a solo as Joe Penner and a rather large gray mouse tap their feet to the rhythm. Ironically, the mice band has decorated their chairs with little cat faces. Because ... Unbeknownst to the revelers, Felix the Cat has snuck up behind them, and is lickin’ his chops at the sight of all those lovely mice and a couple of succulent penguins. If this were a comic strip, the balloon above Felix’s head would say, “Yum!!! Dinner!!!” |