Coal

The coal series paintings reflect my awareness of the all-too-toxic pollution caused by coal mining, transporting and burning. Coal plants are our nation’s top source of carbon dioxide emissions which are the primary cause of global warming. Acid rain, smog and toxic air are the result. My paintings refer to the tragic environmental toll caused by the use of this fossil fuel.

While painting these works I listened to many original coal miner song recordings, which were filled with sorrow, pain and suffering.  I had a huge chunk of black anthracite coal in front of me as I did my paintings in the studio.     

Here is a verse from “The Miner’s Doom”, an old Welsh ballad.  Many miners were Welsh in the coal mining regions.

“Now his wife had been dreaming of her husband so dearly, 
She's seen him in danger - " God help me," she cried; 
Too true was the dream of a poor woman's sorrow. 
The rope broke ascending; her dear husband died. 
Their home that morning was as jov-al as any, 
But a dark cloud came rolling straight o'er their door 
A widow, three children are left for to mourn him; 
The one that they ne'er will see any more”.