“The Handoff” oil on canvas, 29” x 18”. 2024

This painting illustrates the moment when a down on his luck truck driver, desperate for a rich opportunity, takes pause to contemplate his road to salvation. Reaching for an envelope stuffed with cash, being pushed across the table by the two shady mobsters, is payment for a job that will almost certainly lead to danger. Can he afford to be indebted to the this notorious southwestern criminal enterprise, is it worth risking his freedom or even his life.

This piece was a turn for me into the “Western Noir” genre. It was meant to be the beginning of an evolving narrative, focused on the trucker as he navigated this journey and everything that laid before him. I wanted to paint scenes of action, emotion, and storytelling while paying homage to the vast and rugged landscapes of the American Southwest. Although the rest of his story is yet to be painted, this piece stands on its own.