A bit more than a decade ago I reinvented myself.

With premeditation and willful intent I transformed from cartoonist and print designer into a gallery rat. My theory was that the asshole quotient, common and rampant in the commercial domain, would be less in the "fine" art arena.

I'd always painted and made stuff. I figured, hey, I can do this and make a living doing it while bringing home a smidgen of integrity.

I fantasized a federation of bohemian savior faire, a band of esoteric gypsy savants. I imagined a camaraderie of enlightened champions, iconoclasts, pagans, heretics, beatniks and renegades all cacophonous and asymmetrical, yet harmonious and Godly within the buttressed walls of Art.

Of course what I found was, the beasties who prowl and eviscerate one another in the commercial sector are pretty much analogous to the florid monsters who lurk and skulk within the citadel of Culture. Seems to be the nature of the human beast.

My work has been bulldozed, painted out, snatched down and tossed into dumpsters by those who consider themselves enlightened. I've been called on the carpet by cultural mavens for the temerity of calling what I do art. I've received death threats for making unacceptable pictures.

And it's been a struggle making ends meet.

Don't get me wrong. I've had a great time. And, at this late date, I will remain on course.

And, luckily, there really are some glorious screwballs out there. Gallery owners, musicians, burlesque queens, tattoo artists, filmmakers. Fiery madmen and women who not only make it enjoyable but also bring ecstatic delirium into the mix.

This is a kind of a scrapbook of gallery openings, friends, models, co-conspirators and fellow running dogs -- those who make it tolerable.

Portrait of Sonia.                  Devilish with Sonia in NOLA.

With Puddles (Big Mike) and Monkeyzuma (Shannon) at the Vortex, Atlanta.

With the succulent and inspirational Kelly Hall. Portrait of Kelly.

With Jilly (partner in hi-jinx ) and Christina (partner in art crime) at an opening at the gallery at East Atlanta Tattoo. 2008.

Portrait by Shawn Vinson for the opening of the"Irreverent Art of Skip Williamson" show in Decatur GA at the Vinson Gallery. 2008.

Opening night at the Vinson Gallery. 2008.

Hanging with the talented and vivacious artist Ruby Franklin at the Vinson Gallery.

Uncle Daddy and the Kissin' Cousins jamming on Decatur Square for my opening at the Vinson Gallery.