"Red Stiletto on Yellow"

Today's photo of the day, like yesterday's, is a new smaller work more modestly priced that's not yet on Jay Rolfe's website. It's a 2 feet square fine art reproduction on stretched canvas enhanced with an original signature by the artist. This red stiletto is set off with a stunning yellow background. It is available framed or unframed. Artist Jay Rolfe likes the black float frame which further sets it off. Here are both framed and unframed photos, so you be the judge of which you like best.

That's the latest step of artist Jay Rolfe on his Journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You may view some of Jay Rolfe's Unique Artistic Idea, his innovative 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings, on his website at http://www.3dssc.com/. Artist Jay Rolfe uses vibrant color, 3-D, recognizable shape, and huge size to reveal beauty, touch emotion in a positive way, and create Uplifting Conversation Pieces.

"Red Stiletto"

"Red Stiletto" is a new, smaller, more affordable work, 2 feet by 2 feet in size, a fine art reproduction on stretched canvas with the original signature of artist Jay Rolfe. It's the photo of the day.

That's the latest step of artist Jay Rolfe on his Journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You may view some of Jay Rolfe's Unique Artistic Idea, his innovative 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings, on his website at http://www.3dssc.com/. Artist Jay Rolfe uses vibrant color, 3-D, recognizable shape, and huge size to reveal beauty, touch emotion in a positive way, and create Uplifting Conversation Pieces.

"Wine = Tax Deduction"

Last night was OTBN (Open That Bottle Night). It provided an opportunity to display Jay Rolfe's mixed media painting "Wine = Tax Deduction." Today's photo of the day is "Wine = Tax Deduction."

That's the latest step of artist Jay Rolfe on his Journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You may view some of Jay Rolfe's Unique Artistic Idea, his innovative 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings, on his website at http://www.3dssc.com/. Artist Jay Rolfe uses vibrant color, 3-D, recognizable shape, and huge size to reveal beauty, touch emotion in a positive way, and create Uplifting Conversation Pieces.

Jasper Johns "Gray"

Artist Jay Rolfe is looking forward to seeing this exhibit at the Met since reading Jerry Saltz' review in the current issue of New York Magazine. It's a great review, and I've read several others, both in popular and art publications. Before reading Saltz' review, I was apprehensive about the exhibit. The reason? As you've probably noticed, I like bright colors. Jasper Johns painted many paintings in bright colors and then again virtually the same painting in shades of gray. I have always liked the bright ones better. For example, in last year's exhibit at the National Gallery in Washington DC, both colorful and gray paintings were shown, although colorful ones predominated. I enjoyed that show and bought the catalog. Now I'm ready to see this exhibit. Thanks Jerry Saltz!

The 2 photos of the day are what is apparently the one colorful painting in the show "False Start" and its gray analogue "Jubilee" both painted in 1959.

That's the latest step of artist Jay Rolfe on his Journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You may view some of Jay Rolfe's Unique Artistic Idea, his innovative 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings, on his website at http://www.3dssc.com/. Artist Jay Rolfe uses vibrant color, 3-D, recognizable shape, and huge size to reveal beauty, touch emotion in a positive way, and create Uplifting Conversation Pieces.

"Sophisticated Lady"

Here's another 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas painting by Jay Rolfe that the photo was recently posted to his website. "Sophisticated Lady" is 8 feet high, 8 feet wide, and 7 inches deep. For a larger image, please go to the website.

That's the latest step of artist Jay Rolfe on his Journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You may view some of Jay Rolfe's Unique Artistic Idea, his innovative 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings, on his website at http://www.3dssc.com/. Artist Jay Rolfe uses vibrant color, 3-D, recognizable shape, and huge size to reveal beauty, touch emotion in a positive way, and create Uplifting Conversation Pieces.

Bread and Puppet Theater

Bread and Puppet Theater keeps popping in front of artist Jay Rolfe, so today's post will be about it. About 2 weeks ago when viewing the DVD "Across the Universe" there were several scenes with puppets that looked like Bread and Puppet creations, including one scene that seemed like the Bread and Puppet Circus field in Vermont. Artist Jay Rolfe and his wife Randy Rolfe have been to the Bread and Puppet Circus and to the Museum in Glover VT and seen the many amazing larger than life puppets used over the past decades, as well as seeing preparations for current shows. Seeing "Across the Universe" again this past weekend we noticed a special thanks in the end crerdits to Bread and Puppet Theater, so that confirmed it was B&P not just a copy.

Also, when artist Jay Rolfe visited the "Puppet Show" at the Institute for Contemporary Arts at the University of Pennsylvania 2 weeks ago, part of the exhibit (right next to the Kiki Smith photos) was literature about Bread and Puppet from the Bread and Puppet Press. The catalog notes said: "Bread and Puppet Theater, directed by Peter Schumann, has been the single most influential live puppet theater twoupe in the United States since the 1960s. Schumann's creation of an avant-garde political puppet theater has depended in part on his inimitable graphic designs, here represented by various publications created by the Bread and Puppet Press." I'm sure Peter would love it. And if the organizers had asked Peter for a puppet instead of settling for literature collected by someone, I'm sure he would have been happy to lend one or more.

To visit the Bread and Puppet Theater website, click on this link. http://www.breadandpuppet.org/ The photo of the day is of the Bread and Puppet Theater.

That's the latest step of artist Jay Rolfe on his Journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You may view some of Jay Rolfe's Unique Artistic Idea, his innovative 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings, on his website at http://www.3dssc.com/. Artist Jay Rolfe uses vibrant color, 3-D, recognizable shape, and huge size to reveal beauty, touch emotion in a positive way, and create Uplifting Conversation Pieces.

One Year of Blogging

In his first year of blogging, artist Jay Rolfe made 244 posts to this blog! It's been fun, and has evolved into including a visual every day in the form of the photo of the day. Today's photo of the day is of the blogger, artist Jay Rolfe, with his 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas painting "American Gothic Nude."

That's the latest step of artist Jay Rolfe on his Journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You may view some of Jay Rolfe's Unique Artistic Idea, his innovative 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings, on his website at http://www.3dssc.com/. Artist Jay Rolfe uses vibrant color, 3-D, recognizable shape, and huge size to reveal beauty, touch emotion in a positive way, and create Uplifting Conversation Pieces.

"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road"

Today artist Jay Rolfe posted a photo on his website of his huge 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas painting titled "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road." The painting is about 5 feet high by 17 feet long by the thickness of a paving brick, 3 1/2 inches. That photo is the photo of the day.

That's the latest step of artist Jay Rolfe on his Journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You may view some of Jay Rolfe's Unique Artistic Idea, his innovative 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings, on his website at http://www.3dssc.com/. Artist Jay Rolfe uses vibrant color, 3-D, recognizable shape, and huge size to reveal beauty, touch emotion in a positive way, and create Uplifting Conversation Pieces.

"Two Hearts Together"

Happy Valentine's Day! "Two Hearts Together" is Jay Rolfe's large 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas painting for Valentine's Day. It's 5 1/2 feet high, 8 feet wide, and 6 1/2 inches deep. Even though you may have seen it before on this blog, it is Jay Rolfe's most appropriate painting for Valentine's Day, so it's the photo of the day.

That's the latest step of artist Jay Rolfe on his Journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You may view some of Jay Rolfe's Unique Artistic Idea, his innovative 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings, on his website at http://www.3dssc.com/. Artist Jay Rolfe uses vibrant color, 3-D, recognizable shape, and huge size to reveal beauty, touch emotion in a positive way, and create Uplifting Conversation Pieces.

"Black Hole"

Artist Jay Rolfe recently put another photo on his website www.jayrolfe.com/ is of his 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas painting of a black hole called, guess what(?), "Black Hole." This is the version that's 42" x 42" x 2.375". It's the photo of the day today.

That's the latest step of artist Jay Rolfe on his Journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You may view some of Jay Rolfe's Unique Artistic Idea, his innovative 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings, on his website at http://www.3dssc.com/. Artist Jay Rolfe uses vibrant color, 3-D, recognizable shape, and huge size to reveal beauty, touch emotion in a positive way, and create Uplifting Conversation Pieces.

"Sexy Lady" Red Stiletto Pump

Another photo artist Jay Rolfe recently put on his website www.jayrolfe.com/ is of his 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas painting of a stiletto pump high heel shoe in red called "Sexy Lady." It's the photo of the day today.

That's the latest step of artist Jay Rolfe on his Journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You may view some of Jay Rolfe's Unique Artistic Idea, his innovative 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings, on his website at http://www.3dssc.com/. Artist Jay Rolfe uses vibrant color, 3-D, recognizable shape, and huge size to reveal beauty, touch emotion in a positive way, and create Uplifting Conversation Pieces.

"American Gothic Nude"

Artist Jay Rolfe has added several new photos of his innovative 3-D paintings, 3DSSC or 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings, to his website. The photo of the day is of "American Gothic Nude" which is a 4' high version of artist Jay Rolfe's 8' high "American Gothic Uncovered." It's painted on canvas and includes a real hayfork. You can view details about both on Jay Rolfe's website http://www.jayrolfe.com/. Both paintings are inspired by Grant Wood's iconic painting "American Gothic" which is displayed at and was seen by artist Jay Rolfe at the Art Institute of Chicago. Here's a link to "American Gothic" on their website. http://www.artic.edu/artaccess/AA_Modern/pages/MOD_5.shtml

That's the latest step of artist Jay Rolfe on his Journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You may view some of Jay Rolfe's Unique Artistic Idea, his innovative 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings, on his website at http://www.3dssc.com/. Artist Jay Rolfe uses vibrant color, 3-D, recognizable shape, and huge size to reveal beauty, touch emotion in a positive way, and create Uplifting Conversation Pieces.

University of Pennsylvania

On Wednesday, artist Jay Rolfe visited the University of Pennsylvania to hear a lecture by artist Kiki Smith delivered at the Harrison auditorium of the Penn Museum of Anthropology and Archeology, and the ICA museum, and the Arthur Ross Gallery in the Furness Building. It was very nostalgic, as Jay Rolfe attended undergrad and law school at U of P. It was morre nostalgic because the artist had watched the DVD "Across the Universe" the night before. "Across the Universe" is set in the 60's Vietnam War era in NYC and features about 30 Beatles songs, the lyrics of which actually fit the narrative. Amazing writing, and a well done movie (as a Penn grad, I should say film instead of movie). "Across the Universe" had brought up many memories - I met my wife there, partied, courted, demonstrated for peace, and of course attended classes and hung out all around there.

The Dirty Drug was a hangout for coffee and snacks on the corner of 34th and Walnut Sts. It's real name was Cy's Penn Luncheonette - I only remembered because I saw a photo of it - but everyone called it the Dirty Drug. The stores in that area have been replaced by a modern building in university style, but still have stores on the first floor. One irony is that the funky Dirty Drug has been replaced in the exact same location by a Starbucks with its clean corporate look!

Today's photo of the day is from the window of an Urban Outfitters store. The man's tee shirt seems to tell what some modern women seem to think is all a man is good for. From the number of single or divorced middle aged women walking their dogs at the local nature preserve, it looks like many of us have been replaced by dogs and their unconditional love.

That's the latest step of artist Jay Rolfe on his Journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You may view some of Jay Rolfe's Unique Artistic Idea, his innovative 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings, on his website at http://www.3dssc.com/. Artist Jay Rolfe uses vibrant color, 3-D, recognizable shape, and huge size to reveal beauty, touch emotion in a positive way, and create Uplifting Conversation Pieces.

Kiki Smith at Penn

Artist Kiki Smith spoke at the Penn Humanities Forum on Wednesday, and artist Jay Rolfe was in the audience. And before the talk, artist Jay Rolfe went to the ICA (Institute for Contemporary Art) at Penn to see all the exhibits, and especially Kiki's work there as the fact of her talk was related to having work in the ICA show. Her work was in the "Puppet Show" exhibit and consisted of 2 white plaster portions of arms and 2 white plaster portions of legs hanging on wires from the ceiling. In the Puppet Storage part of the exhibit there was a photo of Kiki performing with a Punch and Judy puppet show in 1972, and 2 photos of her in her studio more recently without puppets.

Kiki's talk was interesting, as she started out flat and ended up excited and vivacious after talking about body parts, leaking body fluids, body organs, and of many of her paintings reflecting people feeling "isolated and thwarted." Surprising. Although her visuals were far from funny, she made funny comments that made her and the audience laugh. She really seemed to have fun talking about her work and made it enjoyable for artist Jay Rolfe and the rest of the audience.

Today's photo of the day is of a Kiki Smith sculpture, not one she talked about, but one I could find an image of. It's called "Pyre Woman on Haunches" and made in 2002.

That's the latest step of artist Jay Rolfe on his Journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You may view some of Jay Rolfe's Unique Artistic Idea, his innovative 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings, on his website at http://www.3dssc.com/. Artist Jay Rolfe uses vibrant color, 3-D, recognizable shape, and huge size to reveal beauty, touch emotion in a positive way, and create Uplifting Conversation Pieces.

Video of "Girls Just Want To Have Fun"

Yesterday artist Jay Rolfe successfully posted a video of creating his 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas painting "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" on his website. Another technical triumph for a non-techie. He also put up photos of several additional paintings. Today's photo of the day is of Jay Rolfe's 3DSSC painting "Girls Just Want To Have Fun."

That's the latest step of artist Jay Rolfe on his Journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You may view some of Jay Rolfe's Unique Artistic Idea, his innovative 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings, on his website at http://www.3dssc.com/. Artist Jay Rolfe uses vibrant color, 3-D, recognizable shape, and huge size to reveal beauty, touch emotion in a positive way, and create Uplifting Conversation Pieces.

Video of "Two Hearts Together"

Perhaps artist Jay Rolfe's greatest achievement yesterday was posting a flash video of Creating "Two Hearts Together," a 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas Painting that is 5 1/2 feet high, 8 feet wide, and 6 1/2 inches deep. That may be no big deal to you techies, but for someone who sacked his law career to be a fine arts painter and who never created anything on the web until a few weeks ago, it's a big deal. You can watch the video at this link. http://www.3dssc.com/Pages/video_pg/t_hrt_vi.html You can see the painting at this link. http://www.3dssc.com/Pages/paint_pg/t_hearts.html#

That's the latest step of artist Jay Rolfe on his Journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You may view some of Jay Rolfe's Unique Artistic Idea, his innovative 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings, on his website at http://www.3dssc.com/. Artist Jay Rolfe uses vibrant color, 3-D, recognizable shape, and huge size to reveal beauty, touch emotion in a positive way, and create Uplifting Conversation Pieces.

Kiki Smith "Untitled" 2002

Today artist Jay Rolfe is attending a lecture by sculptor Kiki Smith, daughter of famed sculptor Tony Smith (deceased) at the Penn Humanities Forum. Kiki has achieved fame in her own right. The photo of the day is an "Untitled" sculpture from 2002 by Kiki Smith.

That's the latest step of artist Jay Rolfe on his Journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You may view some of Jay Rolfe's Unique Artistic Idea, his innovative 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings, on his website at http://www.3dssc.com/. Artist Jay Rolfe uses vibrant color, 3-D, recognizable shape, and huge size to reveal beauty, touch emotion in a positive way, and create Uplifting Conversation Pieces.

Andy Warhol "Brillo Boxes"

Let me take the photo of the day in a new direction today. Andy Warhol's "Brillo Boxes." This set of them was produced in 1969 and artist Jay Rolfe saw them at the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena CA. You can see other sets of "Brillo Boxes" at other museums.

That's the latest step of artist Jay Rolfe on his Journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You may view some of Jay Rolfe's Unique Artistic Idea, his innovative 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings, on his website at http://www.3dssc.com/. Artist Jay Rolfe uses vibrant color, 3-D, recognizable shape, and huge size to reveal beauty, touch emotion in a positive way, and create Uplifting Conversation Pieces.

Matisse "Two Models Resting"

Today's photo is another painting by Henri Matisse from the Philadelphia Museum of Art titled "Two Models Resting" painted in 1928.

That's the latest step of artist Jay Rolfe on his Journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You may view some of Jay Rolfe's Unique Artistic Idea, his innovative 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings, on his website at http://www.3dssc.com/. Artist Jay Rolfe uses vibrant color, 3-D, recognizable shape, and huge size to reveal beauty, touch emotion in a positive way, and create Uplifting Conversation Pieces.

Stiletto Event

The Stiletto event Friday night to benefit Action AIDS was fantastic. The whirling searchlights pictured in yesterday's photo of the day guided hundreds of people to the event. Today's photo of the day is the artist Jay Rolfe and Sue, the owner of Stiletto, pictured just before the event.

That's the latest step of artist Jay Rolfe on his Journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You may view some of Jay Rolfe's Unique Artistic Idea, his innovative 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings, on his website at http://www.3dssc.com/. Artist Jay Rolfe uses vibrant color, 3-D, recognizable shape, and huge size to reveal beauty, touch emotion in a positive way, and create Uplifting Conversation Pieces.

Opening Night

Today's photo is of the searchlights which lit the way to the opening night reception last night. It was exciting. There were lots of people and a good time was had by all, and Jay Rolfe's 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings looked great at Stiletto.

That's the latest step of artist Jay Rolfe on his Journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You may view some of Jay Rolfe's Unique Artistic Idea, his innovative 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings, on his website at http://www.3dssc.com/. Artist Jay Rolfe uses vibrant color, 3-D, recognizable shape, and huge size to reveal beauty, touch emotion in a positive way, and create Uplifting Conversation Pieces.

Action AIDS

Artist Jay Rolfe is heading off to his opening to benefit Action AIDS in a few minutes. So just a quick photo of the day which shows artist Jay Rolfe setting up yesterday.

That's the latest step of artist Jay Rolfe on his Journey From Starving Artist To 21st Century Picasso. You may view some of Jay Rolfe's Unique Artistic Idea, his innovative 3-D Shaped Stretched Canvas paintings, on his website at http://www.3dssc.com/. Artist Jay Rolfe uses vibrant color, 3-D, recognizable shape, and huge size to reveal beauty, touch emotion in a positive way, and create Uplifting Conversation Pieces. is heading off to his opening to benefit Action AIDS in a few minutes. So just a quick photo of the day.