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Created in 1999 on a miniature 4"x6" canvas, "Talking Blues" holds a unique place in my archive. Working on such a small scale is always a real challenge for me—I’m much more comfortable on larger frames, and even an 8"x10" page can feel tight—yet despite its intimate size, this painting has generated countless requests over the years. During this period, my art was heavily shaped by my musical rotation, specifically Bob Marley’s 1991 album Talkin' Blues, which I picked up for five dollars at CD Solution. The record intercuts live tracks with Marley’s own interview segments, playing remarkably like a modern podcast decades before the medium existed, and it remains one of my favorite purchases to this day.
The visual composition directly honors both the music and its deeper roots. Layered in the background are handwritten lyrics to the album's title track, anchored by a prominent Star of David—the Seal of Solomon adopted by Emperor Haile Selassie to emphasize his genealogical link to King Solomon as king of the Ethiopian Falashas. Fusing raw musical poetry with historical Rastafari symbolism, the piece became a meditative labor of love and a personal thank you to Bob Marley’s enduring voice and message.
Sadly, over the years I’ve lost track of where "Talking Blues" ended up, and its current whereabouts are a mystery. Due to copyright laws, no prints or replicas exist of this piece. If you happen to be the collector who owns this original 1999 canvas, please reach out and let me know—I’d love to know where it found a home!
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