This Place is Ours

The work is composed of tiny acrylic paintings on paper collaged to a canvas support. Like other works he has completed in the past, Houser brings together poetic observations, anthropomorphic creatures, and an array of images in flatly rendered, cartoon-like paintings that recall the work of folk artist, Howard Finster. The artist's personal iconography of seemingly random words and images is inspired by an interest in color, scientific principles, plants, and animals. His work reads more like a graphic novel than painting. Several characters and images in "This Place is Ours," recur throughout the gamut of Houser's work including a Big Foot-like "goner," an octopus, a gremlin-like creature, and a ten-gallon hat.