Machine Gun Madam

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 16x12

“The voluptuous blonde bombshell just delivered a Chicago Valentine to a couple of wise guys trying to muscle in on her operation ...a hooker with a heart of hot lead instead of gold.”

I had a lot of fun painting this and learned a lot about the Thompson Submachine gun; also known as, the Chicago piano, the Chicago typewriter, Chicago Organ Grinder, and the Tommy Gun.

Gangsters and Bootleggers of the Prohibition and Depression era made this their weapon of choice. It has been referred to by one researcher as the "gun that made the twenties roar." The Thompson Model 1928 submachine gun came with a 20 or 50-round drum magazine and a .45 caliber punch.

This was the weapon used in the infamous Chicago St Valentine’s Day massacre where seven members of the North Side Irish Bugs Moran gang were mowed down by Al Capone’s South Side Italian gang.

Heartbreak Hotel

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 24x30

A woman leans out of the old hotel window hoping to catch a breeze as the sounds of the rundown neighborhood drift up from the dirty pavement. The full moon shines down on the shabby buildings as traffic noise and sirens pierce the night ...down at the end of lonely street. 

Shanghai Surprise

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 20x16

Here is my 11th painting in my ongoing "Sin, Sex and Cigarettes" series. This time it's the mysteries of the Orient. In the war years asians were often portrayed as sinister villians like Dr. Fu Manchu. Like the pulps that inspired this series, my captions are meant to tantalize the viewer.

"In the hidden passages beneath the opium den, Madam Chen made her play. She was the Jade Spider, and I was trapped in her evil web!"

Back Alley Justice

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 20x16

The tenth painting in my "Sin, sex, and cigarettes" series features a sinister, armed man silhouetted by harsh lights in a wet and foggy alley. I don't know if there was ever a pulp novel with this title, but it wouldn't surprise me if there was. Available from the artist $950.00

I have been asked why I have chosen to create these paintings as a tribute to the lurid pulp covers of the past. I can remember that as a boy I would take the bus to downtown Milwaukee for a day at the public museum and library. Afterwards I would go to the old bookstore on Wisconsin Avenue. The musty smelling basement level was filled with pulp magazines, paperbacks, and comic books all at half off the cover price. Then I realized that these magazines were priced at .10 cents to .75 cents apiece before the discount! I loaded up on Weird Tales, science fiction, Southsea Adventures, True Detective, Amazing Stories and comics. The tantalizing element of the cover art was the mystery of the unexplained dramatic action and exotic locations portrayed, even though the stories rarely lived up to my high expectations. The melodramatic covers of pulp magazines helped influence and shape my art. I want these paintings to function as illustrations for unwritten stories. Back then, the cover art and captions of the pulps captured my imagination and fired my sense of wonder and adventure!

Deadly Surprise

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 20x16

Here is number nine in my "Sin, sex, and cigarettes" series, my tribute to the lurid pulp magazine covers and film noir genre. Nothing puts a damper on a romantic interlude like a loaded gun pointed at your cheatin' heart. As you can see, our leading man is a little slow on the draw in more ways than one. You can tell by the fact that she already has her dress off and he's still wearing his hat and coat! Available from the artist $950.00

Bad Girl

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 16x12

This is number eight in the "Sin, Sex, and cigarette" series, my tribute to the lurid pulp magazine covers and film noir genre. The title comes from the old saying "good girls go to heaven ...but bad girls go everywhere." The background is typical of the paperback covers of the time, showing a slice of the seedy part of the big city. Available from the artist $800.00

.38 Special

Original Painting - Acrylic on Canvas 16x12

Lucky number seven in the "Sin, Sex and Cigarettes" series has arrived. This lethal lady is armed and patiently awaiting the arrival of someone. I wouldn't want to be that guy. $800.00

Red Peril

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 16x12

This is the sixth painting in my "Sin, Sex, and Cigarettes" series, my tribute to the lurid pulp magazine covers and film noir. All the essential elements are here ...from the gun, cleavage, dramatic lighting, to the cigarette dangling from her bright red lips. $800.00

Face of Fear

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 12x16

What is she afraid of, giant mutated insects, creatures from outer space or just plain murderers ...who knows? Another tribute to the pulps and B movies has emerged from my brush! These are a lot of fun to paint and I hope that others enjoy them also. $800.00

Mean in Green

Original Painting - Acrylic on canvas 16x12

This is another painting in my ongoing series "Sin, sex and cigarettes" a salute to the cover art of the pulp magazines. This could be that double crossing client I referred to in my "City Noir" piece. This grieving widow chose to wear green rather than black to compliment her eyes and the setting sun cast shadows through the window blinds. $800.00