Chuck it All

Chuck It All is the first installment of the Chucks series.

The idea began with a pair of Converse All-Stars and a simple appreciation for a shoe that carries so much personality. In this painting, I wanted to take something familiar and everyday and give it the attention usually reserved for more traditional portrait subjects.

The pose is casual but slightly theatrical—the rolled jeans, the pointed foot, and the balance between movement and stillness give the Chucks a little more presence than a typical pair of sneakers might expect.

Like the other paintings in the series, these are my own Chucks, photographed during a self-directed photoshoot. Painted with visible brushstrokes and a focus on color and texture, the series is less about the object itself and more about the personality and joy attached to the things we choose to wear.

The title is a little bit of wordplay, because when it comes to Chucks, sometimes you just have to Chuck It All.