Category Archives: Figurative Painting & Drawing

The Lebowski Cycle –The Raft of the Medusa (After Géricault)

The Raft of the Medusa (After Géricault) • Joe Forkan 2011, oil on linen, 84" x 144"

This is the largest painting from Lebowski Cycle. It is based on The Raft of the Medusa, painted by Théodore Géricault around 1819. His painting is a staggering 16 x 23 1/2 feet. Mine is merely 7 x 12 feet, but of course is further diminished in being compressed to a few inches on the computer screen. I have a lot to say about this one, and will also post more soon about the process of the last few paintings I uploaded, but I wanted to get this up on the site.

The Raft of the Medusa • Théodore Géricault 1818–1819 Oil on canvas 491 cm × 716 cm (193.3 in × 282.3 in) Musée du Louvre, Paris

I will be giving a Gallery Talk about the Lebowski Cycle at the Frank M. Doyle Arts Pavilion on Thursday, September 29th, from 7-9.

More info on the lecture and the exhibition is available here:

Here are a few images from the opening to try to give a sense of the scale of this piece. It is a diptych, each canvas measuring 6 x 7 feet.

Coming Soon – Lebowski Cycle Exhibition Prints

Oath of the Horatii • Joe Forkan 2006-2010 Oil on Linen 72" x 40"

There are currently several print pieces in the works related to The Lebowski Cycle exhibition: A limited edition black & white etching of The Taking of Christ, a limited edition silkscreen exhibition poster of The Supper at Emmaus, and a limited edition exhibition poster of the painting The Oath of the Horatii. More information soon…

The Lebowski Cycle – The Baptism of Christ (After Carracci)


Baptism of Christ (After Carracci) • Joe Forkan 2011, oil on linen 24” x 38"”

Here is another painting from the exhibition. I haven’t written much about the process of the last few paintings that I’ve posted, but I will update the posts with more information after the opening. This painting is based on the tradition of Baptism paintings, of which there are many variations.

Baptism of Christ • Annibale Carracci 1584 Oil on canvas San Gregorio, Bologna

This is the smallest painting in the Cycle, and the composition is much simpler than the other work. Initially it was much more complex, with plans for two additional panels, but ultimately I decided the middle panel did everything I wanted the painting to do.

I was particularly drawn to Annibale Carracci’s painting on the theme from 1584.

The Lebowski Cycle at The Frank M. Doyle Arts Pavilion, Orange Coast College, Costa Mesa, CA • Sept 10 – Oct 28, 2011

Opening Reception: Saturday, September 10th 6-10pm

I will be giving a Gallery Talk about the Lebowski Cycle at the Frank M. Doyle Arts Pavilion on Thursday, September 29th, from 7-10.

More info on the lecture and the exhibition is available here: