In this series there is a great variety of subject matter. I was inspired by many divergent interests during this time and my studio time was very limited. It wasn't until the end of this period that I managed to grasp and focus on subject matter compelling enough to explore in the form of a series. "Tom Turkey" and "Tom with Apple" are among the highlights of a body of work in which I employed my friend Tom Valacenti as a model.

At this time I was also beginning to delve into the religious imagery I had always been drawn to but lacked the courage to explore. Faced with the imposing task of trying to bring the two divergent subjects of Tom and God into one work, I decided to focus on the contrast itself and literally break up the picture plain into two separate areas.

As a result, the paintings became multi-layered composities in which the sacred and secular coexist in intimate association. This inspired the ethos for the work I went on to produce in the next series.