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Joel rides the Greyhound bus from California to Boston. He arrives and tells us something important. Somewhere into the Midwest, a passenger opens an orange. What would otherwise be a pleasant smell becomes part of the misery of the four-day ride. The bus is filled with the smell of orange, a smell deeply carved into the experience, which by now has become close to torture. We understand immediately.

This is such a simple painting. I'm trying to keep it that way. I'm working in thirds, Joels huge Dutchboy haircut, his T-shirt and his jeans. For the background I had a color in mind, but the color had no name. A design book, "White Asparagus and Burnt Olive" gave me the idea of how to name the color and how to make it. Burnt Olive it is.

What's left to do. Some very interesting greys to make the chunks in Joel's hair. The burnt olive background. I did the T-shirt in forest green with a lot of dry brush in the shirt. After looking at it for a while I decided to leave it that way.
I'm thinking a lot about how to simplify paintings. We'll see how this turns out. the finished work should be duller, toned down.