Idea behind the painting: When I graduated college, I painted illustrations for Mesa Magazine and worked as a graphic designer for an ad agency in Phoenix.  One week, I had a deadline for the Mesa Magazine, and the ad agency was very busy at the same time.  I drank a lot of black tea, stayed up late at nights painting the illustration, and wore headphones listening to some of my favorite rock and roll music.  When I submitted the finished painting to the magazine, I painted this self-portrait the following weekend.  I was exhausted, but proud I met all my assignment deadlines.