Not to be a bummer, but you know… life is loaded with setbacks. It’s part of the deal. Economic stress, health problems, aging, the heartbreak of psoriasis. “It’s a rough mother-loving space-time continuum, Jack,” to quote the great Robert of Crumb. And it is. Crumb was right. Sometimes you need something to get you through it. You need inspiration. It helps to have totems around for those moments. Touchstones. Reminders. And that’s why I did this new series of paintings, You Want It — You GOT It.

What do you want? You want courage? Like the Cowardly Lion, you got it. You want power? Like Billy Batson (who could turn into Captain Marvel with one little utterance: “Shazam!”), you GOT it. You want to make it happen? You want HUSTLE? YOU GOT IT. And that’s the idea. Like Dumbo flying with the magic feather, you just need a reminder. What you want, you got. It’s in you. You just need to remember to bring it out. Maybe these paintings will help.

Courage. Power. Hustle. Swagger. It’s all in you, ready to come out. Remember that. You’ve already got it. Like in a dream, where you fly, and you remember that somehow you’ve always known how to fly — just mind over matter you tell yourself — you have what you need in you. Deep in there, somewhere, ready to come out if you only remember. And believe.

You got it.

Show opens November 7 at the Adjacent to Life pop-up gallery at Ninth Street Espresso (341 East 10th St. between Aves A and B). Reception on the 7th from 6 to 8 pm.