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For most of my life, I really didn’t like Classical artwork and the European tradition it inspired. I never cared much for naturalism, and placed much higher value on abstraction/expressionism (both ancient and modern). However, after I visited Europe for the first time (specifically, Paris), I developed a much greater appreciation for the pre-modern European tradition. Futhermore, I was reminded of how important Greek Mythology was to me as a kid – I was raised secularly, but I was obsessed with Greek Mythology. To this day, I’m far more familiar with Greek myths than with Judeo-Christian ones. Seeing these myths gorgeously-rendered throughout the museums of Paris helped me connect with the stories of my childhood and finally gave me respect for the pre-modern European tradition. After returning, I made a series of paintings inspired by Classical artwork, including this one (see also: Antichrist, Kneeling Nude, Autumn in Antiquity, Romance, Hercules, Oedipus Rex, and Bloom).
The Greeks were obsessed with the human form (particularly the male body). While I had been making portraits for years, I had much less experience with bodies, expecially the male form. Studying Greek sculpture made me want to improve in this area. So, I made a series of nudes that used Greek and Roman sculptures as references, including the one above (see also: Autumn in Antiquity , Romance, Kneeling Nude, and Bloom). I didn’t want to strictly copy the statue, so I kept my brushwork loose and energetic.