{"title":"Original Work","description":"These are original, one-of-a-kind work, signed by me on the back of each piece.","products":[{"product_id":"cleaning-up-the-peoples-house","title":"Cleaning up the People's House","description":"\u003ch3\u003eThe best response to the insurrection was strong for its humility.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter the mob was escorted out of our House, with trash strewn about, a lone man in a blue suit, began to clean up. \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e“When you see something you love that’s broken you want to fix it. I love the Capitol. I‘m honored to be there,” said \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eRepresentative Andy Kim from New Jersey.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eIt “really broke my heart.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWhen I first saw the pictures of Kim cleaning up, it reminded me of when I worked with my neighbors to paint over some of the graffiti in my neighborhood many years ago. People told me that it wouldn't make a difference, that the tags would be back in a day, but that's not what happened. If something looks well-maintained, and you clean up new vandalism right away, people tend to leave things alone.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWhen Kim saw the mess, he got right to it. \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e“What else could I do?” And I like to think that his actions (along with a huge police presence) were a large part of why nothing else has happened since. You keep things looking orderly, you clean up the damage, and the vandals leave you alone.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThis is a small painting with a lot of heart.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe work is 7\" x 10\" and it's a study that I may develop into a larger painting. I really think the looseness of the study fits nicely with the subject matter. It's a one-of-a-kind original signed on the back.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"7\" x 10\"  Unframed Original","offer_id":41533722132649,"sku":"21004","price":250.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/CleaningUpthePeople_sHouse.jpg?v=1611850586"},{"product_id":"ruth-bader-ginsburg","title":"Portrait of Ruth Bader Ginsburg","description":"\u003ch3\u003eThis is a portrait of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBorn 1933 and died September 18, 2020, she was nominated by Bill Clinton and confirmed in 1993 by a vote of 96 to 3, thus by senators representing 98% of the population of the US (DC excluded).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMy goal was to capture some of her personality.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRuth Bader Ginsburg was an advocate for gender equality and a trailblazer in many ways, one of the first women at Harvard Law School, and only the second woman on the Supreme Court. But what strikes me from listening to her speak is that she was a strong woman with a disarming sense of humor, who was willing to work with, and befriend, people who she passionately disagreed with.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIt's a small painting, but it is vivacious, kind of like RBG.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original is 10\" x 7\" gouache on watercolor paper.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39452323545257,"sku":"21006-TC","price":275.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/RuthBaderGinsburg.jpg?v=1615826049"},{"product_id":"clarence-thomas","title":"Portrait of Clarence Thomas","description":"\u003ch3\u003eThis is a portrait of \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eClarence Thomas, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBorn 1948, he was nominated by George H. W. Bush and confirmed in 1991 by a vote of 52 to 48, thus by senators representing 49% of the population of the US (DC excluded).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMy goal was to capture some of his personality.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClarence Thomas is a very conservative member of the court, a textualist, who many would argue often looks to the letter of the law before the practical effect of the law. While I painted this, I listened to him speak, and he comes off as a warm, compassionate person, and one who takes pride in having pulled himself up with his own talent.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIt's a small painting, but it feels right.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original is 10\" x 7\".\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":38566339969193,"sku":"21007","price":195.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/ClarenceThomas2400.jpg?v=1612286197"},{"product_id":"stephen-breyer","title":"Portrait of Stephen Breyer","description":"\u003ch3\u003eThis is a portrait of Stephen Breyer, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBorn in 1938, he was nominated by Bill Clinton and confirmed in 1994 by a vote of 87 to 9, thus by senators representing 93% of the population of the US (DC excluded).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMy goal was to capture some of his personality.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs I painted this, I listened to a few interviews with Justice Breyer. He's funny and charming, but also feels strongly about the mission of the court.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIt's a small painting, but it feels right.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original is 10\" x 7\", gouache on paper.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":38566396068009,"sku":"21008","price":275.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/StephenBreyer2400.jpg?v=1612286682"},{"product_id":"portrait-of-john-roberts","title":"Portrait of John Roberts","description":"\u003ch3\u003eThis is a portrait of John Roberts, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBorn in 1955, he was nominated by George H. W. Bush and confirmed in 2005 by a vote of 78 to 22 by senators representing 64% of the population of the US (DC excluded).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMy goal was to capture some of his personality.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJohn Roberts, as Chief Justice, runs the show. While I painted this, I listened to him speak, and he really has a nice sense of humor. As a jurist he is known for being on the textual, conservative side. As he said in his confirmation hearings, \"[I]t's my job to call balls and strikes, and not to pitch or bat.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIt's a small painting, but it feels right.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original is 10\" x 7\", gouache on paper.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":38567838613673,"sku":"21009","price":275.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/JohnRoberts2400.jpg?v=1612303094"},{"product_id":"portrait-of-samual-alito","title":"Portrait of Samual Alito","description":"\u003ch3\u003eThis is a portrait of Samual Alito, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBorn in 1950, he was nominated by George W. Bush and confirmed in 2005 by a vote of 58 to 42 by senators representing 50% of the population of the US (DC excluded).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIt's a small painting, but it feels right.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original is 10\" x 7\" and I print these on an 11\" x 8.5\" with a 1\/2 inch border on the top and bottom and a 3\/4\" border on the left and right.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIt's a small painting, but it feels right.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original is 10\" x 7\", gouache on paper.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":38567887503529,"sku":"21010","price":275.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/SamualAlito2400.jpg?v=1612303291"},{"product_id":"portrait-of-sonia-sotomayor","title":"Portrait of Sonia Sotomayor","description":"\u003ch3\u003eThis is a portrait of Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBorn in 1954, she was nominated by Barack Obama and confirmed in 2009 by a vote of 68 to 31 by senators representing 73% of the population of the US (DC excluded).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIt's a small painting, but it feels right.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original is 10\" x 7\", gouache on paper.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":38567919321257,"sku":"21011","price":275.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/SoniaSotamayor2400.jpg?v=1612303427"},{"product_id":"portrait-of-elana-kagan","title":"Portrait of Elana Kagan","description":"\u003ch3\u003eThis is a portrait of Elana Kagan, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBorn in 1960, she was nominated by Barack Obama and confirmed in 2010 by a vote of 63 to 37 by senators representing 65% of the population of the US (DC excluded).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIt's a small painting, but it feels right.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original is 10\" x 7\", gouache on paper.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":38567927414953,"sku":"21012","price":275.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/ElenaKagan2400.jpg?v=1612303510"},{"product_id":"portrait-of-neil-gorsuch","title":"Portrait of Neil Gorsuch","description":"\u003ch3\u003eThis is a portrait of Neil Gorsuch, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBorn in 1967, he was nominated by Donald Trump and confirmed in 2017 by a vote of 54 to 45 by senators representing 45% of the population of the US (DC excluded).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIt's a small painting, but it feels right.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original is 10\" x 7\", gouache on paper.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":38567933542569,"sku":"21013","price":275.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/NeilGorsuch2400.jpg?v=1612303595"},{"product_id":"portrait-of-brett-kavanaugh","title":"Portrait of Brett Kavanaugh","description":"\u003ch3\u003eThis is a portrait of Brett Kavanaugh, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBorn in 1965, he was nominated by Donald Trump and confirmed in 2018 by a vote of 50 to 48 by senators representing 44% of the population of the US (DC excluded).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIt's a small painting, but it feels right.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original is 10\" x 7\", gouache on paper.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":38567943569577,"sku":"21014","price":275.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/BrettKavanaugh2400.jpg?v=1612303761"},{"product_id":"portrait-of-amy-coney-barrett","title":"Portrait of Amy Coney Barrett","description":"\u003ch3\u003eThis is a portrait of Amy Coney Barrett, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBorn in 1972, she was nominated by Donald Trump and confirmed in 2017 by a vote of 52 to 48 by senators representing 48% of the population of the US (DC excluded).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIt's a small painting, but it feels right.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original is 10\" x 7\", gouache on paper.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":38567958675625,"sku":"21015","price":275.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/AmyConeyBarrett.jpg?v=1612303846"},{"product_id":"study-of-the-brass-queens","title":"Study of the Brass Queens","description":"\u003ch3\u003eThe Cold and Covid Couldn't Keep the Fun Out of Mardi Gras\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor the last few years, my family and I have gone to New Orleans for Mardi Gras to see my son and the parades. I love it, but this year we couldn't go, so we did what we could.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWe ate Po' Boys and listened to this cool all girl brass band in Brooklyn\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe band previously had walked up to my pandemic birthday party (a gift from my wife) and so we've been following them. But this show, outside, 20 degrees, with masks and dancing in the middle of the day, this was a nice respite from quarantine and this time, I decided I wanted to create a keepsake. I took some pictures and made a sketch, and now it's available to all you music lovers.\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" mce-data-marked=\"1\"\u003eIt's a small painting with a lot of heart.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" mce-data-marked=\"1\"\u003eThe painting is only 7\" x 10\", but it has a lot of energy. It's a quick study, completed in one day. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41533956030633,"sku":"21022","price":175.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/BrassQueens_2.jpg?v=1613435147"},{"product_id":"sleepy-dog-study-1-pretty","title":"Sleepy Dog - Study 1 - Pretty","description":"\u003ch3\u003eThis is Jackson.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe's my beagle and he hangs with me in my studio. I find his sleepy presence soothing, and so I often draw him.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is one of my favorites. He's looking innocent and pretty and you can't even imagine that his howl is louder than the sound of two garbage trucks colliding with an ambulance with the siren stuck on.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIt's a small painting, with a lot of heart.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original is 6\" x 8\", so small and intimate, a nice piece for a hallway or other small room where you can get close to it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":38735094022313,"sku":"21023X","price":150.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/Dog1.jpg?v=1614025999"},{"product_id":"sleepy-dog-study-4-gangly","title":"Sleepy Dog - Study 4 - Gangly","description":"\u003ch3\u003eThis is Jackson.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe's actually a rare beagle that's skinny. Every morning I take him to the park and throw the ball with him at least 40 times. He's the Michael Jordan of beagle retrievers, diving, slashing, jumping and curling his body to get that ball, no matter what.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI love this painting because you can see that he just woke up from a dream where he was chasing the ball and he's satisfied as only a dog can be.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIt's a small painting, with a lot of heart.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original is 6\" x 8\", but it really has a lot of energy. This is a great piece for a hallway or somewhere else where you'll come into close contact with it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":38735173386409,"sku":"21025","price":150.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/Dog4.jpg?v=1614026976"},{"product_id":"the-mismeasure-of-justice-what-a-truly-representative-supreme-court-would-look-like","title":"The Mismeasure of Justice - What a Truly Representative Supreme Court Would Look Like - 2018","description":"\u003ch3\u003eThey say it's non-partisan.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you listen to the justices, they'll say that it's an intellectual discussion of ideas and language, that decisions aren't political, but rather based on abstract philosophical ideas about the original intent of the framers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAnd yet, the Senate sure acts like it's political.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd yet, Mitch McConnell, was willing to break the rules and conventions of the Senate to avoid hearings on a Justice nominated by a Democrat. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe Supreme Court is currently a picture of minority rule.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI started thinking about what it would look like if you could stand the Justices together, but scale them based on how representative their appointment was. I did the math, and formed an equation which was the average of the popular vote of the president and the percentage of the population that the confirming votes represent. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAnd this is a painting of how the power should be allocated.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStephen Breyer, appointed by a popular president with 97 senators confirming looms over the three Trump appointees who look like kids at the adult table. In this world, you'd get extra credit if your appointment was actually chosen by the majority. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhile this is a conceptual work, it's still moving in its own way.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo make it, I did \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/michaeljamesfreedman.com\/collections\/supreme-court-portraits\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/michaeljamesfreedman.com\/collections\/supreme-court-portraits\"\u003estudies of each of the Justices\u003c\/a\u003e (Stephen Breyer, Clarence Thomas, John Roberts, Samuel Alito, Neil M. Gorsuch, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett) so that I could get a sense of what each was like. I listened to all of them speak and watched videos when I could. I really tried to capture a sense of their personalities. When you put it all together, there's a lot to look at, and it somehow fits together.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe actual painting is 20\" x 16\", gouache on paper. It is available framed with a simple black frame and white mat. The overall size of the framed work is 28\" x 24\".\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI revisited this painting in 2023, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/g7iitzdjfcd5pzap-45484802215.shopifypreview.com\/products\/the-mismeasure-of-justice-what-a-truly-representative-supreme-court-would-look-like-2023\"\u003ehere\u003c\/a\u003e. If you buy both, you save $195.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39468795691177,"sku":"21031-21","price":900.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/MismeasureofJusticeleft-Pano.jpg?v=1614712468"},{"product_id":"monumental-portrait-joe-biden","title":"Monumental Portrait - Joe Biden","description":"\u003ch3\u003eA monumental presidency deserves a monumental portrait.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI think that Biden has serious old-school cool. He's cool like FDR or LBJ, cool like James Dean, cool because he gets shit done. And so, I set out to make a monumental portrait of him. The actual painting is 24\" x 18\". His head is roughly 1.5 times larger than in real life, and I used a number of techniques to create that sense of scale. He just feels impressive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39471040364713,"sku":"21033-22-MM","price":595.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/MonumentalBidenPortrait-NoText.jpg?v=1616012281"},{"product_id":"monumental-portrait-grandma-judy","title":"Monumental Portrait - Grandma Judy","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThis painting is of my mother-in-law Judy Ruland\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShe \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ehas been living with us in Brooklyn for the last 8 years, having come up from a small town in Florida.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eShe's 81 and she's maybe the most social person I know.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the last few years, she has woven herself into the tapestry of Brooklyn life. She belongs to two crochet groups, the Park Slope Grandmother's club, and is a key volunteer at the Pacific Street library. Prior to the pandemic, she was out and about, exercising at the Y, taking long walks, and meeting and getting to know all of our neighbors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe pandemic restrictions have been particularly hard for her.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJust like all of us, Judy misses all those little connections that we have with our community, the smile from the shop owner, the conversation while waiting in line at Trader Joe's, the story from the person working out next to her at the Y. When Judy went on her daily excursion, she'd come back full of rich stories from our neighbors. People were always telling her things about their lives that they might not tell their closest friends.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eBut then she broke her hip.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt wasn't rock-climbing, just a slip in her bedroom, a one-second thing, and then an operation and months of rehab. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eA person like Judy deserves a monumental portrait.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat makes Judy so remarkable is her resilience. She recently had a setback on her road to recovery, but she's still in good spirits and is going to continue to work towards getting back on her feet again.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI paint what moves me, and working on this portrait has been exhilarating. When Judy began to emerge from the swirls of paint, it felt like I was bringing her into the studio with me. The painting is big (17\" x 22\") and there's something powerful about celebrating Judy, larger than life, letting the world know that she will overcome and leap into the wider world again.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eEveryone needs a Grandma Judy in their lives.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI think that some older women, when they reach 80 or so, find a new period of enlightenment in their lives. I remember my Grandmother, who worried about every little thing, becoming calm and hopeful at that age, like the Buddha. My kids have been lucky to have Judy in their lives, and I hope that this painting can bring you some of that joy and illumination.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39651284648105,"sku":"21035-22","price":595.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/GrandmaJudy200080.jpg?v=1617901136"},{"product_id":"mother-daughter-on-new-years-eve","title":"Mother \u0026 Daughter on New Year's Eve","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn Brooklyn, you'll often see a mother and daughter walking together down the street, talking animatedly. I can tell that they are mother and daughter because they look alike and share some features, but it's not obvious what these essential features are. As an artist who is working on portraiture, I try to quantify the similarities. It can be their gait, facial features, voice, etc.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThere is something that's just so beautiful about this relationship.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs an outsider (neither a mother or a daughter) looking in, I feel there is something mysterious and close about the relationship, words unstated, feelings communicated with a glance, that is difficult to quantify, but apparent just the same. I'm starting on a series to try to capture this, both the relationship and the family resemblance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThis painting is from my family's New Year's celebration.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe pandemic is raging, but we're safe, and we're celebrating at home. We're happy, but worried, looking forward hopefully to a new and hopefully better year, but also relieved to have made it through 2020. \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-slate-fragment=\"JTdCJTIyb2JqZWN0JTIyJTNBJTIyZG9jdW1lbnQlMjIlMkMlMjJkYXRhJTIyJTNBJTdCJTdEJTJDJTIybm9kZXMlMjIlM0ElNUIlN0IlMjJvYmplY3QlMjIlM0ElMjJibG9jayUyMiUyQyUyMnR5cGUlMjIlM0ElMjJwYXJhZ3JhcGglMjIlMkMlMjJkYXRhJTIyJTNBJTdCJTdEJTJDJTIybm9kZXMlMjIlM0ElNUIlN0IlMjJvYmplY3QlMjIlM0ElMjJ0ZXh0JTIyJTJDJTIydGV4dCUyMiUzQSUyMkklMjB0aGluayUyMHRoZSUyMGxvb2tzJTIwb24lQzIlQTB0aGUlMjBmYWNlcyUyMG9mJUMyJUEwbXklMjB3aWZlJTIwYW5kJTIwbXklMjBkYXVnaHRlciUyMGFyZSUyMHRlbGxpbmcuJTIwV2UlMjBjYW4lMjBjZWxlYnJhdGUlMkMlMjBidXQlMjBub3QlMjB3aXRoJTIwYWJhbmRvbi4lMjBXZSUyMGNhbiUyMGRyZXNzJTIwdXAlMkMlMjBidXQlMjB0aGVyZSdzJTIwbm93aGVyZSUyMHRvJTIwZ28uJTIyJTJDJTIybWFya3MlMjIlM0ElNUIlNUQlN0QlNUQlN0QlNUQlN0Q=\"\u003eI think the looks on the faces of my wife and my daughter are telling. We can celebrate, but not with abandon. We can dress up, but there's nowhere to go.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIt's a moment in time. \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI'm hoping that the pandemic will be behind us soon, and we'll look at paintings like these as historical artifacts, like those Absinthe drinkers of Degas. It's a time when we want to celebrate, to let loose, but we just can't because of the worry and all the suffering around us.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis original painting is 24\" x 18\" gouache on watercolor paper.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40365099548841,"sku":"21038-17","price":1200.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/Mother_Daug22x17-shrunk2000p.jpg?v=1619632399"},{"product_id":"mother-and-son-going-to-smell-the-flowers","title":"Mother and Son Going to Smell the Flowers","description":"\u003ch3\u003eMy mom is a person of persistent habits.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMy mom is a scientist who likes everything to be just so. She likes numbers and graphs and trends. For example, she tracks exactly how long it takes her to finish the KenKen or the acrostic; she categorizes her expenses, and knows the ratio of, say, zucchini to salmon. And everything she categorizes ends up in some form of graph with double trend lines (linear and logarithmic) so she can see if there's anything to worry about. \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eMy mom had polio as a kid, and though she's very capable, she still needs help with daily living, especially now that she's turning 83. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eMy brother has been caring for my mother for over a decade. \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe is a man of infinite patience. I think caregivers don't get enough credit for the sheer repetitiveness of it all. My brother helps her with just about everything and he is OK with that, but these things aren't so easy, are they?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eWhen it's nice, they go for a walk together.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey have a long list of very specific routines and scheduled activities, most to keep the house running and for health benefits. But they also have recently started going on daily walks around their neighborhood. In the spring and summer, they stop at houses with flowers, and my mother does her own early-warning covid test, smelling the flowers, to make sure that she's OK. Now that she's vaccinated, they've kept up the routine, since she's discovered that there are benefits to the walk, even without the exercise (recently, my mother has been confined to a wheelchair).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThis painting is them before the walk.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI thought about painting her actually smelling the flowers, but I think there's something about the expressions that each of them have here, in anticipation of the outing. I'm currently obsessed with painting parent\/child relationships, trying to see how the pair interact as well as what they're each thinking. I'm also trying to show the family resemblance, which is a particular challenge when painting people of significantly different ages or genders. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIt's weird painting these two.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese are not two strangers on a bench. I can't see my mom without remembering how she cared for me as a child, how she raised me and encouraged me to follow my passions, how she'd laugh with delight when I'd get something right or when I told her of some accomplishment. And I can't really see my brother, who's 5 years younger than me, without remembering the time I watched him through his elementary school years while my mom finished her doctorate. Now he cares for her and it's all a bit twisted in my head.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSo this is a character study of two people, but it's one in which a third, the artist, is still present. I may not be in the painting physically, but I'm definitely still in the picture. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis painting was done quickly in just a few days, it seemed to flow off the brush. Both of them are people I know very well; maybe that makes it easier.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original is 24\" x 18\", gouache on watercolor paper. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41533893214377,"sku":"","price":1200.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/MotherSon250090.jpg?v=1622585224"},{"product_id":"big-rain-roses","title":"Big Rain Roses","description":"\u003ch3\u003eA Rose is a rose is a rose\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJust like the faces in many of my portraits, the roses in this painting are much larger than life size, almost 15 inches across. The scale changes how we see the flowers. Rather than delicate blossoms needing protection (under a glass dome, perhaps), these are monumental, even a little scary. The petals feel ponderous, the leaves bend to the ground.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI love a rose in the rain. The dim light makes the colors pop, the leaves so green that they look black.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese rain roses are a few days past their peak, their petals just barely standing up to the heavy drops. I love that perfect moment when you see the sparkle of youth overcome by the vicissitudes of age. (Maybe it's because I'm middle aged.)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eA painting for secrets\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eRoses have been associated with secrets \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sub_rosa\"\u003esince the ancient Greeks\u003c\/a\u003e. I tried to imbue this painting with that magic. Put the print in only your most intimate room, where you tell that which the world doesn't need to know.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn terms of secrets, you can see the backs of these roses in the sister painting, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/michaeljamesfreedman.com\/products\/big-back-rain-roses\"\u003eBig Back Rain Roses\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis original is 24\" x 18\", gouache on watercolor paper.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40676892868777,"sku":"21040-22","price":1200.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/BigRainRose2500.jpg?v=1623960913"},{"product_id":"big-back-rain-roses","title":"Big Back Rain Roses","description":"\u003ch3\u003eI’ve been thinking a lot about the backs of things.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhy is it that most rose paintings focus on the showy front and ignore the way the petals come out of the sepal?\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThis painting is of the back of the roses featured in \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/michaeljamesfreedman.com\/products\/big-rain-roses\"\u003eBig Rain Roses\u003c\/a\u003e, and it shows a part of the rose that we’re not used to seeing. The rose, in my mind, is a flower with a lot of attitude. I think of it as tough as nails, imagining itself able to defend itself against its enemies, but really still just a frilly flower that survives because we see its beauty (shout out to The Little Prince).\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eSometimes the message in art is what you’re not seeing. Seeing the rose from the back forces you to imagine what the face looks like, it’s the becoming, not the being.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThese roses are perfect — just a bit past full blown.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe petals are just starting to melt down. It really is my favorite time of the rose, when it’s still whole but starting to wither, when it’s perfect colors have just a tinge of brown. I spent a lot of time working to capture the translucence of the petals and the effect of the cloudy rainy sky on the petals. I think the painting captures that feeling of coming upon a rose on a cloudy day, a moment of surprise that on such an imperfect day, we can come across such perfection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis original painting is 24\" x 18\" gouache on paper.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40702407114921,"sku":"21041-22","price":1200.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/BigBackRainRose2500.jpg?v=1624474875"},{"product_id":"jackson-standing-demon-dog","title":"Jackson Standing - Demon Dog","description":"\u003ch3\u003eSometimes the urge is overwhelming.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI'm not sure why my dog zooms after a four-mile walk where he's just chased down a ball 75 times, but he does. Science says that dog zoomies (or FRAPS - frenetic rapid activity periods) are a normal way for dogs to release excess energy. But for Jackson, I swear it's something else. You can always tell when it's going to happen. He crouches down, wags his tail, and looks at me funny, like \"you're not going to like this, but I can't help myself\" funny.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHell is about to break loose.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEven though he's a beagle, he's a big beagle (we call him a super beagle), and though he's getting on in years, he can still zoom with the best of him. He'll spin in circles, biting his tail, run and jump though the house. When this happens, it's best to get out of the way. My daughter thinks he's possessed, calls him a demon-dog.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eI'm particularly happy with his face.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen I need a bit of a break from the real world, I paint my dog. \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/michaeljamesfreedman.com\/collections\/sleepy-dogs\"\u003eUsually he's sleeping.\u003c\/a\u003e But in this case, I captured him right before mischief. I really like how his face came out in this painting. It's just so Jackson, so alive with dog-like energy and thoughtfulness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe actual painting is 14\" x 20\". \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/michaeljamesfreedman.com\/collections\/sleepy-dogs\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/michaeljamesfreedman.com\/collections\/sleepy-dogs\"\u003eTake a look at some other dog paintings.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40750344536233,"sku":"21043-17","price":395.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/JacksonStanding2500.jpg?v=1625678532"},{"product_id":"the-other-side-of-jackson","title":"The Other Side of Jackson","description":"\u003ch3\u003eWho knew that Jackson had a good side?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a project I'm working on I needed a picture of Jackson's right side. I looked through all of my photos and such a picture does not exist. Jackson is kinda like the moon. Without taking extraordinary measures, it's impossible to see his other side.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSo I did this test.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI took a camera with me and started taking pictures. When he sees the camera he turns away, and I only see his left side - the craziest thing. Eventually, I had to work with my wife who threw a ball, and I caught him when he set off running to get it. He truly does have a right side.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIn this print, you can really see the motion.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe's about to run off, and you can feel it, his body mid lunge. This is as good as it gets for an old dog.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe actual painting is 14\" x 20\".\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/michaeljamesfreedman.com\/collections\/sleepy-dogs\"\u003eTake a look at some other dog paintings.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40750345945257,"sku":"21044-17","price":550.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/TheOtherSideofJackson2500.jpg?v=1625678511"},{"product_id":"jackson-looking-at-me","title":"Jackson Looking at Me","description":"\u003ch3\u003eThey say a dog's eyes have evolved to move your heart.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen a dog looks at you, you get the feeling that they want to tell you something. Jackson here is saying, \"I know you fed me but, hooman, I'm just still hungee, cause I'm a beagle.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIt's cause they look like baby eyes.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBabies and dogs both have oval, almost round, eyes, and they look straight at you, lovingly. It's no accident that the eyes move you. You see a dog like this and you want to protect him. Even the shape of the mouth looks like a smile.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThis is a quick sketch, but it really captures him.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJackson has both a loving and a studious expression. He's hungry, but a little tired; he's waiting expectantly. You can feel it in person and you can feel it in the drawing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJust don't feed him! He'll never leave you alone. He's a beagle, for Pete's sakes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original drawing is 14\" x 10\".\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/michaeljamesfreedman.com\/collections\/sleepy-dogs\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/michaeljamesfreedman.com\/collections\/sleepy-dogs\"\u003eTake a look at some other dog paintings.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41533772824745,"sku":"21045","price":325.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/JacksonLookingatMe2500.jpg?v=1625675133"},{"product_id":"pandora-reigning","title":"Pandora Reigning","description":"\u003ch3\u003eWe all see these cute videos of cats and dogs hanging out together, all sweet hugs and kisses.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWell, I call BS on that, at least in my experience. After we brought Jackson the beagle home, Pandora the cat was a basket case. She bunked under our bed, coming out at night only when Jackson was kenneled up. She would skitter here and there, grabbing a nibble of food, and then scatter back under the bed whenever I came near. She lived a high stress life, always afraid that beagle Jackson was around the next corner, ready to howl down on her like a demon dog. I thought it was only a matter of time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSometimes a cat needs some space.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA couple of years ago, my daughter moved into the apartment upstairs and asked to take Pandora up with her. She’d tell stories of how the cat was now affectionate and cuddly, but I’d go up there and the cat was nowhere to be seen, still holed up under her bed. And this is how it has been, until this month. The last few times I’ve been up there, with my daughter away, the cat has been affectionate, like that perfect imagined cat of your dreams.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThis is Pandora, queen of her domain.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI think there’s something regal about a cat who owns her territory. She stands assuredly, knowing that her life is good and the food will come and that there’s no slobbering, howling nightmare of a hound around the corner. She stands all aloof, but you’re sure she loves you, since that’s why we keep cats, to make us feel a little less alone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\nThis original gouache drawing is 20\" x 14\" on watercolor paper.","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40974661714089,"sku":"21047-19","price":750.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/PandoraReigning.jpg?v=1628013577"},{"product_id":"dancing-in-the-streets","title":"Dancing In the Streets","description":"\u003ch3\u003eIt seems odd that we would just let the world burn.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe are living in a world which is burning, where entire cities are wiped off the map, where we acknowledge that due to man-made emissions, whole communities will be flooded on a regular basis. Millions of people will die from excessive heat. And yet, we aren’t rushing out to the streets like last summer’s BLM rallies. There are no marches demanding change. Nobody’s smashing SUV’s or blowing up pipelines. We’re all going about our regular lives, just hoping for change.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIt’s because it doesn’t affect older people.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePart of the problem is that America is essentially a gerontocracy. Everyone who runs this country is old, and because young people don’t vote enough, policies don’t focus on their future. I made this painting because my generation is getting the benefit of all this carbon burning, but time is running out. We can dance in the streets now, but the water’s rising, so don’t expect our kids to be able to do the same.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eListen to the news like our hair’s on fire.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you think about what’s happening as an actual emergency, what we’re doing is insane. We’re still building oil and gas pipelines, cruise ships can’t even bother to plug in when they dock in NYC, there’s no super tax on SUVs, we actually subsidize oil companies, China is still installing coal-fired power plants.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe’re dancing in the flooding streets, trying to eke out the last bit of fun. But think about it. This is an emergency.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe will soon all be underwater.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is an original 24\" x 18\" gouache painting on watercolor paper.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41006633418921,"sku":"21048-22","price":1200.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/DancingintheStreets.jpg?v=1628440936"},{"product_id":"time-travel-portrait-of-the-artist-at-the-age-of-three","title":"Time Travel - Portrait of the Artist at the Age of Three","description":"\u003ch3\u003eTo create art, I inhabit my subject.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI’m not sure about other artists, but for me, the act of painting is pure empathy. When I paint landscapes, I become the ocean, feeling the wind in my hair, the water receding from my tides. When I paint succulents, I feel the pain of the spines erupting from my skin. And when I paint people, I try my best to inhabit them, to be Clarence Thomas or RBG, Joe Biden or my Mother-in-Law, my mom and my brother.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSo I did this experiment.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI decided to go back in time and paint myself as a young boy, to feel what it was like to be young again. I looked through old photos and got a sense of my subject. I thought and thought about those times. And then I found this photo of me and my brother when I was 3 and he was 4, sitting criss-cross on a balcony in my Grandmother’s insane upper west side apartment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAnd it worked.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor the two weeks I painted this, I traveled through time. I remembered what it felt like to be shorter than a countertop, to be flexible like a willow tree, to have no elbows to speak of. I remembered the relationship I had with my brother, the excitement of visiting my Grandmother and being on a porch 100 feet in the air, the sun still shining bright up there.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMemory is such a slippery thing. We feel that everything is consecutive, that time moves in one direction. But art transcends time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you’re an artist, I highly recommend this exercise. Paint yourself as a child. Look back, for that’s the best way to move forward.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original is 16\" x 20\" gouache on watercolor paper.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41041852694697,"sku":"21049-17","price":900.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/TimeTravel-PortraitoftheArtistattheAgeofThree_0.25x.jpg?v=1628890864"},{"product_id":"butterfly-and-mexican-sunflower-sketch","title":"Monarch and Mexican Sunflower Sketch","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eI've been working on a series of butterfly paintings, and to get in the mood, I did a number of gesture sketches. This one came out particularly nice, with the butterfly about to land on a Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia), looking to lap up some sweet nectar. I studied calligraphy in Japan many years ago, and I've been going back to my roots, fooling with a brush pen, working quickly, and making many versions until I get it right. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe original drawing is 7.5\" x 7.5\" brush pen and ink on paper and is in my sketchbook. The print is faithful to the original drawing, so faithful that you can see hints of the other drawings on the other side of the paper. It's printed on beautiful Hahnemuhle German Etching all cotton paper using archival ink on an 11\" x 8.5\" paper. Just buy a cheap standard frame and you're ready to go!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41438605803689,"sku":"21054","price":175.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/mexicansunflowermonarchsketch1.jpg?v=1632868870"},{"product_id":"monarch-and-purple-aster-sketch","title":"Monarch and Purple Aster Sketch","description":"\u003cp\u003eAs part of my studies for my upcoming butterfly paintings, I wanted to capture the insect in motion, about to drop down on a plant. In this one, I feel like the sun is behind the monarch, and I like to think that if you looked carefully enough, you could tell that the flower is purple. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe original drawing is 7.5\" x 7.5\" brush pen and ink on paper and is in my sketchbook. The print is faithful to the original drawing, so faithful that you can see hints of the other drawings on the other side of the paper. It's printed on beautiful Hahnemuhle German Etching all cotton paper using archival ink on an 11\" x 8.5\" paper. Just buy a cheap standard frame and you're ready to go!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41438865490089,"sku":"21055","price":175.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/Monarchpurpleflowersketch1.jpg?v=1632869400"},{"product_id":"monarch-and-coneflower-sketch","title":"Monarch and Coneflower Sketch","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eTo prepare for my monarch series, I really wanted to get a sense of what a butterfly feels like. \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThis was one of my first butterfly sketches using brush and ink, and I really wanted to get the feel of how the lines of a monarch work. In my process, I keep drawing until the idea is in my muscle memory. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eI really love the feel of this drawing. It's both aggressive and delicate at the same time.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original drawing is 7.5\" x 9.5\" brush pen and ink on paper and is in my sketchbook. The print is faithful to the original drawing, so faithful that you can see hints of the other drawings on the other side of the paper. It's printed on beautiful Hahnemuhle German Etching all cotton paper using archival ink on an 11\" x 8.5\" paper. Just buy a cheap standard frame and you're ready to go!\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41438972117161,"sku":"21056","price":175.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/coneflowermonarchsketchfast.jpg?v=1632870258"},{"product_id":"monarch-with-mexican-sunflower","title":"Monarch with Mexican Sunflower","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eButterfly friendly and easy on the eyes\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe Mexican Sunflower, Tithonia rotundifolia, is a great favorite of the Monarch, late blooming with lots of nectar to keep them going on their great migration. They’re also a great flower to paint, with expressive strong petals, and great bushy anthers that look a little dangerous.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIt’s all about the balance\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWhen I work on a piece like this, I start with many many gesture drawings to get the feel for my subject. I keep going until it’s muscle memory, and then when I hit the actual paper, I know what to do without thinking. The goal is that the visual of the weight of the flower is balanced by the energy and color of the butterfly. There are two other flowers to even things out a bit.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThis is the rightmost painting of Monarch-Series 1\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThis is part of a mini series of three butterfly paintings that can stand alone or hang together, depending on what you’re looking for. They were inspired by my daughter, who was looking for a butterfly for her room. After finishing the series, I’ve come to the conclusion that everyone should have a few butterflies in their room; they’ll make you happy everytime you look at them. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe prints are unbelievable\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eI print these using a top-of-the-line Epson printer with Pigment based ink on Hahnemuhle German Etching 13\" x 19\" paper. The colors and vibes are virtually identical to the original. They really sing. Each print is signed and numbered on the back. 13\" x 19\" is a fairly standard size for a frame with no mat which you can pick up at Amazon.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eI recommend buying \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/michaeljamesfreedman.com\/collections\/butterflies\" title=\"Butterfly Series\"\u003ethe whole series\u003c\/a\u003e. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" mce-data-marked=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIf you hang them next to each other, they just change the whole feeling of a room.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41442411577513,"sku":"21057","price":475.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/MonarchonMexicanSunflower13x19forfacebook.jpg?v=1632875805"},{"product_id":"monarch-with-purple-aster","title":"Monarch with Purple Aster","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMonarch’s love them. You might too.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe purple aster, Symphyotrichum puniceum, will attract monarchs in droves, and they’re not bad looking either. These are past their prime, but still able to keep a monarch happy. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eI wanted a painting with the butterfly in the air.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eI cheated a bit, working off a photo for this painting. I really wanted to get that sense of the butterfly flitting about, excited to touch the flowers and bring in some nectar. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThis is the center-most painting of Monarch-Series 1\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThis is part of a mini series of three butterfly paintings that can stand alone or hang together, depending on what you’re looking for. They were inspired by my daughter, who was looking for a butterfly for her room. After finishing the series, I’ve come to the conclusion that everyone should have a few butterflies in their room; they’ll make you happy everytime you look at them. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe prints are unbelievable\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eI print these using a top-of-the-line Epson printer with Pigment based ink on Hahnemuhle German Etching 13\" x 19\" paper. The colors and vibes are virtually identical to the original. They really sing. Each print is signed and numbered on the back. 13\" x 19\" is a fairly standard size for a frame with no mat which you can pick up at Amazon.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eI recommend buying \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/michaeljamesfreedman.com\/collections\/butterflies\" title=\"Butterfly Series\"\u003ethe whole series\u003c\/a\u003e. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" mce-data-marked=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIf you hang them next to each other, they just change the whole feeling of a room.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41442498412713,"sku":"21058","price":475.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/Monarchpurpleflower13x19forfacebook.jpg?v=1632876120"},{"product_id":"monarch-with-coneflower","title":"Monarch with Coneflower","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThere’s nothing like a meadow of coneflowers.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThey look like fireworks, shooting into the sky so fast that their petals are left behind. They’re a big butterfly favorite, and you often see butterflies sipping the nectar and flitting about, no matter where they are planted. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eI’m particularly happy with its little feet.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eI ‘d never really looked at a butterfly’s feet. They are oh so delicate, and look like there’s no way they could actually work, considering how thin they are. I was really playing with the light here, trying to capture it almost hurting my eyes as I completed the work.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThis is the leftmost painting of Monarch-Series 1\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThis is part of a mini series of three butterfly paintings that can stand alone or hang together, depending on what you’re looking for. They were inspired by my daughter, who was looking for a butterfly for her room. After finishing the series, I’ve come to the conclusion that everyone should have a few butterflies in their room; they’ll make you happy everytime you look at them. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe prints are unbelievable\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eI print these using a top-of-the-line Epson printer with Pigment based ink on Hahnemuhle German Etching 13\" x 19\" paper. The colors and vibes are virtually identical to the original. They really sing. Each print is signed and numbered on the back. 13\" x 19\" is a fairly standard size for a frame with no mat which you can pick up at Amazon.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eI recommend buying \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/michaeljamesfreedman.com\/collections\/butterflies\" title=\"Butterfly Series\"\u003ethe whole series\u003c\/a\u003e. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\" mce-data-marked=\"1\" data-mce-style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIf you hang them next to each other, they just change the whole feeling of a room.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41442542518441,"sku":"21059","price":475.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/monarchconeflower13x19forfacebook.jpg?v=1632876208"},{"product_id":"wedding-whisper-gouache-study-8","title":"Wedding Whisper Gouache Study 8","description":"\u003ch3\u003eThere's that moment in a wedding.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor me, it was when I was dancing with my wife, after the ceremony and many congratulations, when we could have a few minutes of peace. I remember whispering something, but not sure what, to her, listening to Chet Baker's \u003cem\u003eMy Funny Valentine,\u003c\/em\u003e and just being glad to be alone for a minute\u003cem\u003e.\u003c\/em\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTime Travel is the next big thing.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI didn't draw during my wedding, but lately, I've been wishing that an artist had been there to record it. With the magic of photographs, I can time travel, and be that artist, with the addition of many years of happy marriage hindsight. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThis was a quick gouache study.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI wanted to get a real sense of the colors and scale, so I painted this in a quick one day session. I love how quiet it seems with the two of us holding hands so sweetly as we danced.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe prints are beautiful.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis original gouache painting is 20\" x 14\" on watercolor paper.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41673633530025,"sku":"","price":750.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/WeddingWhisperGouacheStudy.jpg?v=1637011097"},{"product_id":"wedding-whisper","title":"Wedding Whisper","description":"\u003ch3\u003eFinally, a moment to ourselves.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor me, getting married was a whirlwind of emotion and community. Family, friends, vows, hottest day ever, congratulations, speeches, all condensed into maybe 1 hour of pure craziness. We had thrown most of the wedding ourselves, and were exhausted by the time we got the first dance, and I remember it seeming like the first time we had been alone for days.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eI remember this moment like it was yesterday.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is part of my time travel paintings, an artist looking back when I should have been painting, but wasn't, though it's hard to imagine actually being able to paint during my wedding. For this work, I feel the reality of 28 years of marriage and kids and love overlaid onto that moment when we actually began to start our lives together.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI think there's something universal about those first few minutes together, when you feel about ready to face the world, but want just a few minutes of peace.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original gouache painting is 18\" x 24\".\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41673672851625,"sku":"","price":1200.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/WeddingWhisperGouache.jpg?v=1637012216"},{"product_id":"baby-first-born","title":"Baby First Born","description":"\u003ch3\u003eThere's that pre-smile smile.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI don't know about most parents, but for my wife and me, when we brought the baby home, we spent a lot of time (when he wasn't screaming like a banshee) looking at him, trying to elicit that first smile. We'd been told that he wasn't really able to smile for a while, but we'd look at his face and swear that we saw something that looked like a happy smirk.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this painting, I tried to capture that look. When I look back at the photos, he seems so placid, almost unresponsive, but I know that little glimmer of a smile meant everything to us, making up for the sleepless nights and the witching hour when he'd cry unrelentingly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis painting is part of my time-travel series, in which I'm returning to key moments in my life and painting and reliving them. I'm finding that the empathetic act of painting really allows me to return to the moment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHe's bigger than life.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original gouache painting is 24\" x 18\". His face is roughly double life size, and this makes the painting feel monumental, with Jacob almost like a god. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41676613157033,"sku":"","price":1200.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/FirstBorn.jpg?v=1637082838"},{"product_id":"julian-in-his-crazy-suit","title":"Julian in His Crazy Suit","description":"\u003ch3\u003eThe Perfect Antidote to the Pandemic\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe room was full, the band rather big, the tables arranged around the stage. We'd all had a drink (or two) and ordered some food when the band started something familiar, swinging and rocking as only a rather big band can.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAt first I was afraid, I was petrified\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd there was my friend, in a resplendent suit, reminding us of what we'd all been missing.  \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.julianfleisher.com\/\"\u003eJulian Fleisher\u003c\/a\u003e, the spotlight on him, looking nothing like someone who spent the last two years chopping wood to keep his cabin warm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" jsname=\"YS01Ge\"\u003eAnd I grew strong\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" jsname=\"YS01Ge\"\u003eAnd I learned how to get along\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAt some point, we just need to get back to it.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHis show at Joe's Pub was just what we needed to return to city living. It was normalcy, but it was hyperreal, like we were all extras in Julian's movie. He and his band got up there and swung, and we sang and we danced, and most of all, we made it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan jsname=\"YS01Ge\"\u003eOh no, not I, I will survive\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan jsname=\"YS01Ge\"\u003eOh, as long as I know how to love, I know I'll stay alive\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIt's a simple drawing, but the prints capture it.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original pen and ink drawing is 17\" x 14\".\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42062575534249,"sku":"JULIN-4LT9","price":595.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/JulianFleisherinhisCrazySuit-2.jpg?v=1647359254"},{"product_id":"grandpa-dave-at-my-parents-wedding","title":"Grandpa Dave at My Parents' Wedding","description":"\u003ch3\u003eMy grandfather looked a little like Humphrey Bogart.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe don't have that many photos of him in his 40's, but the ones we do look like he's stepped right out of Casablanca. I recently ran across one of them, and I thought it'd be really cool to draw him and add him to my Time Travel series. Typically, I'm painting something that happened to me, but this one is from before I was born, at my parent's wedding, where I'm pretty sure they had a professional photographer. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHe was so much younger than when I knew him.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI was lucky to spend a lot of time with my Grandfather in his 80's and 90's (he lived to 103). And though he was young at heart, an inveterate gardener and woodworker, he was so much older than I was. What I loved about doing this drawing and spending some quality time with him was that I could imagine what he was like at that wedding (which was in the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/wedding-whisper\"\u003esame backyard as mine\u003c\/a\u003e). He looks so proud, but also worried for the couple's future as a dad would be (It worked out fine).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe prints are beautiful.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original drawing is 17\" x 14\" using sumi ink on cream colored Strathmore paper. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42089260646569,"sku":"","price":450.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/Davein59.jpg?v=1648137183"},{"product_id":"star-magnolia-01","title":"Star Magnolia - A Celebration of Spring","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Beauty of a Star Magnolia in Full Bloom\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNothing says spring like the explosion of Star Magnolia flowers. Before the trees even have leaves, these blossoms transform the branches into a sea of soft, vibrant petals. This drawing captures their dynamic energy, with bold, sweeping ink strokes that reflect the expressive power of their form.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA Study of Floral Elegance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWorking with sumi ink and brush, I focused on the essence of the flower, letting the medium emphasize the graceful yet dramatic movement of its petals. Each stroke aims to capture the magnolia’s fleeting beauty and vibrant presence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBring Spring’s Majesty Into Your Space\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe original is 17\" x 14\" and signed. Perfect for those who appreciate the renewal and vitality of spring, this piece brings the wonder of nature indoors, making it a centerpiece for your living or creative space.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42123718590633,"sku":"","price":450.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/StarMagnolia.01.jpg?v=1649369404"},{"product_id":"star-magnolia-02","title":"Star Magnolia II - A Symphony of Petals","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Vibrance of Spring’s First Bloom\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBefore the trees are covered in leaves, the Star Magnolia bursts to life, filling the air with an abundance of radiant petals. This composition captures that overwhelming sense of spring renewal, with flowing ink strokes that mirror the dynamic energy of the magnolia in full bloom.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA Floral Symphony in Ink\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCreated with sumi ink and brush, this piece emphasizes the movement and expressive character of the Star Magnolia’s petals. The interplay of bold black forms and delicate negative space evokes the fleeting beauty of these seasonal blooms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA Celebration of Spring’s Promise\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe original measures 17\" x 14\" and is signed. Perfect for bringing a sense of growth and transformation to your space, this piece invites the energy and optimism of spring into your home.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42123725308073,"sku":"","price":450.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/StarMagnolia.02.jpg?v=1649369599"},{"product_id":"star-magnolia-03","title":"Star Magnolia III - The Expressive Bloom","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpring’s Earliest Beauty\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBefore the trees are lush with leaves, the Star Magnolia commands attention with its stunning blooms. Each flower feels alive, bursting with energy as if inviting you into a sea of delicate petals. This drawing captures that fleeting moment when nature’s drama takes center stage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA Gesture in Ink\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRendered with sumi ink and brush, this piece emphasizes the magnolia’s expressive petals, focusing on their dynamic shapes and textures. The bold interplay of light and dark conveys the vitality and grace of this springtime marvel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA Statement Piece for Any Space\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe original measures 17\" x 14\" and is signed. Perfect for lovers of spring or bold floral compositions, this artwork brings a sense of renewal and vibrancy into your home or creative space.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42123731697833,"sku":"","price":450.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/StarMagnolia.03.jpg?v=1649369677"},{"product_id":"leap-reflected","title":"Leap Reflected","description":"\u003ch3\u003eThis is Sheer Athleticism. \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen a dancer lifts up so high in the air, it's just breathtaking. This gouache painting on watercolor paper is 18\" x 24\" and is framed and matted in a 33\" x 27\" black frame with a simple white mat.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThis Painting is Part of My \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/michaeljamesfreedman.com\/collections\/the-dancewave-collection\"\u003eDancewave Series\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI attended rehearsal with Dancewave's DC1 Pre-Professional Company for six weeks and made a series of drawings and paintings of the process. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAll Sales Proceeds Go To Dancewave to Support Student Dance Scholarships.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42127956181161,"sku":"LEAREF-5097","price":1200.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/PinkShaelLeapingReflected.jpg?v=1649618262"},{"product_id":"dancers-soar","title":"Dancers Soar","description":"\u003ch3\u003eLike Rocket Ships. \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI love how all of the dancers look like they're about to leap off the page in this painting. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThis Painting is Part of My\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/michaeljamesfreedman.com\/collections\/the-dancewave-collection\"\u003eDancewave Series\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI attended rehearsal with Dancewave's DC1 Pre-Professional Company for six weeks and made a series of drawings and paintings of the process. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAll Sales Proceeds Go To Dancewave to Support Student Dance Scholarships.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original is 18\" x 24\" and is framed and matted in a 33\" x 27\" black frame with a simple white mat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42127961948329,"sku":"DANSOA-1529","price":750.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/FiveDancerBirdyJump.jpg?v=1649618636"},{"product_id":"ancient-cherry-tree-blossoming","title":"Ancient Cherry Tree Blossoming - A Dance of Texture and Color","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Timeless Elegance of a Cherry Tree\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe ancient cherry tree stands strong, its gnarled bark a testament to years of growth and resilience. Against this rugged texture, the pastel pink blossoms erupt in a striking contrast, capturing the fleeting beauty of spring. This piece was inspired by a tree at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, a place I’ve visited for over 30 years, and it celebrates both the strength and fragility of nature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA Play of Ink and Color\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis artwork combines sumi ink with gouache, using the ink’s bold, flowing strokes to emphasize the bark’s raw texture, while the soft gouache brings the blossoms to life. The contrast between the heavy, grounded trunk and the airy, delicate flowers evokes the energy of spring in full bloom.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA Bold Celebration of Nature\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe original measures 12\" x 16\" and is signed. Perfect for nature lovers and those drawn to dramatic contrasts, this piece is a striking addition to any space, offering both depth and vibrancy.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42139965522089,"sku":"","price":550.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/AncientCherryBlossomTree.jpg?v=1649969569"},{"product_id":"fists-up","title":"Fists Up","description":"\u003ch3\u003eSometimes, even young dancers can radiate power.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Drawing\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eis part of my \u003ca data-mce-fragment=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/michaeljamesfreedman.com\/collections\/the-dancewave-collection\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/michaeljamesfreedman.com\/collections\/the-dancewave-collection\"\u003eDancewave Series\u003c\/a\u003e, in which I attended rehearsal with Dancewave's DC1 Pre-Professional Company for six weeks and made a series of drawings and paintings of the process. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAll Sales Proceeds Go To Dancewave to Support Student Dance Scholarships.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42178165932201,"sku":"FISUP-8889","price":595.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/FistsUpGouache.jpg?v=1651509220"},{"product_id":"cherry-blossom","title":"Cherry Blossom - A Singular Beauty","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Elegance of a Spring Bunch\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis brush-and-ink drawing focuses on a single bunch of cherry blossoms, highlighting their delicate, fleeting beauty. Unlike a whole tree in bloom, this intimate composition celebrates the details of each petal, stamen, and stem, bringing the essence of spring to life in a quieter, more personal way.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA Celebration in Ink\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eUsing pen, brush, and ink, I explored the intricate interplay of light and shadow within the blossoms. The inky black background contrasts with the soft, luminous petals, giving the flowers a vibrant presence on the page.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA Perfect Touch of Spring\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe original measures 12\" x 16\" and is signed. Whether you’re a lover of florals or someone drawn to the quiet elegance of spring’s first blooms, this piece offers a timeless moment of nature’s artistry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42193265131689,"sku":"","price":375.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/CherryBlossom.jpg?v=1652020060"},{"product_id":"watermelon-01","title":"Watermelon - A Slice of Summer","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Sweetness of Simplicity\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFew things capture the essence of summer like a fresh, juicy watermelon. This brush-and-ink drawing focuses on a single slice, its textured rind and seeds brought to life with bold, gestural strokes. The simplicity of the composition invites the viewer to linger on the tactile beauty of this everyday treat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBold in Brush and Ink\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRendered in sumi ink, this piece emphasizes contrast and texture, highlighting the watermelon’s delicate interior and rugged rind. Every brushstroke conveys the playful yet meditative nature of this work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA Refreshing Addition to Your Space\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe original measures 14\" x 17\" and is signed. Perfect for anyone who loves the vibrancy of summer or bold, minimal compositions, this piece adds a refreshing and contemporary touch to any room.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42245382733993,"sku":"","price":450.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/Melon1.jpg?v=1653856636"},{"product_id":"watermelon-02","title":"Watermelon II - A Slice of Contrast","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Bold Simplicity of Summer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFew things are as iconic as a watermelon slice, and this piece takes a closer look at its intricate textures and natural beauty. The juicy pulp and densely packed seeds come to life through expressive, gestural ink strokes, making this a bold and vibrant celebration of summer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA Study in Texture\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eUsing sumi ink and brush, I focused on the interplay between the watermelon’s delicate interior and the sturdy rind. The texture of the seeds and pulp contrasts beautifully with the clean, minimal composition, creating a striking and playful dynamic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePerfect for Lovers of Summer and Simplicity\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe original measures 14\" x 17\" and is signed. This piece is ideal for those who appreciate bold, minimalistic art that highlights everyday beauty with a contemporary touch.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42245389648041,"sku":"","price":450.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/Melon2.jpg?v=1653856751"},{"product_id":"watermelon-03","title":"Watermelon III - A Slice in Full Color","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Juiciness of Summer in Gouache and Ink\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNothing compares to the vibrant sweetness of a watermelon slice, and this piece captures its essence in striking color. The rich red of the pulp, the crisp white of the rind, and the deep green of the outer shell come together in a bold yet refreshing composition that feels almost edible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA Playful Exploration in Color and Texture\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eUsing gouache and ink, I explored the watermelon’s vibrant hues and tactile details. The saturated reds and greens pop against the clean white background, while the ink strokes add texture and depth. It’s a celebration of summer’s vibrancy through color and contrast.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA Bold Statement for Any Space\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe original measures 12\" x 16\" and is signed. Perfect for anyone drawn to bright, lively compositions or the nostalgia of summer treats, this piece brings a burst of energy and warmth to your space.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42245391646889,"sku":"","price":550.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/Melon3.jpg?v=1653856836"},{"product_id":"aloe-ferox-01","title":"Aloe Ferox - Towering Aspirations in Ink","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Majesty of Aloe Ferox\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWho knew aloes could grow as tall as a tree? While this Aloe Ferox resides comfortably in a pot, given time and care, it has the potential to grow up to 10 feet tall and bloom with striking orange flowers. This drawing captures its strength and vitality with bold, expressive ink strokes that celebrate the plant’s commanding presence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRooted in Resilience\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis piece reflects my fascination with the enduring beauty of botanical life. The interplay of bold blacks and flowing lines brings out the dynamic essence of this extraordinary aloe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBring the Boldness of Nature Indoors\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Aloe Ferox\" is an original work on 17\" x 14\" paper. Signed and ready to frame, it makes a striking addition to any space, perfect for plant lovers or those seeking art that exudes quiet strength and natural elegance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e","brand":"Michael James Freedman","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42369163624617,"sku":"","price":450.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0454\/8480\/2215\/products\/AloeFerox1.jpg?v=1657214566"}],"url":"https:\/\/michaeljamesfreedman.com\/collections\/original-work.oembed?page=14","provider":"Michael James Freedman","version":"1.0","type":"link"}