This painting dates back to 2007. At the time, I was developing a series of paintings that had a Southern-Fried, Thelma & Louise meets Justified flair to them. Each painting featured a scene taking place in the deep south during the middle of summer in a place without air conditioning. The paintings were filled with heat, sweat, and often the grime of a dingy environment. Almost a crime noir for the South, though I certainly wanted them to be fun as well. I was nostalgic for Texas, and it heavily influenced my paintings at the time.

Several paintings were started, and most came near to completion. I have never shown them publicly before, as I had intended on developing several more and release them together as a series. Of course, that was a few years ago, and I think it is time to share some of the works.

Ali II is actually the second Southern-Fried painting featuring Ali as the subject. The first version has yet to be complete, but you’ll see it here soon. Anyway, I was having fun with the primary painting we worked on, and added this in as a quick study to see if a campfire scene might work for a future project. The painting quickly moved beyond just a study and took on a life of its own.

These days, my palette is a lot more subtle, though I still enjoy the enthusiasm of this piece. I certainly loved those orange and reds. I look forward to sharing the rest of the series with you later this year. Hopefully.

My many thanks to Ali for being such an inspiration over the years, and supporting me with so many artistic endeavors.

Ali II
Acrylics on Canvas
16 x 20 inches
Painted 2007 by Matt Cauley