This is an image of LeBron James’ famous chalk toss, which he would do before most games until recently. Being a spiritual person, I felt that LeBron was probably doing this as a prayer-like ritual, in addition creating some magic before the game to get himself, his team, and the audience “pumped,” and it has become an iconic moment for him. In this image, it seems as if his arms are outstretched almost in a Christ-like position, and, like in El Greco religious paintings, where the space of the images break into synesthetic and unconscious realized worlds, I hope that the surreality of the talc cloud goes into other positive realms.

With these works, I’m also thinking of Goya matador paintings, of crowds surrounding the activity, both cheering and jeering at the Matador, who must retain his concentration and composure despite the theatrics of the scene, which for me (and famously Picasso) allegorically can relate to the artist and performance of humans in the world just in general. As I’m not a “sports painter,” I’m hoping these images portray someone who believes in what they do with all their heart, and like any great athlete or artist, puts everything into their work not just to show off their talent, but to achieve great heights not just for themselves but all humanity and the world. Truly these LeBron paintings were deeply inspiring to create in an America that desperately needs more heroes like LeBron to serve as models for the rest of the USA and all humanity.