Why’d You Make That – “Sisyphean Temptatis”

I recently shared some thoughts about the original intention behind my painting “Sisyphean Temptatis” on IG, and I’m excited to dive a little deeper into the layers of meaning here. I love to hear “how the sausage in made” with other creatives so I wanted to share that with you.

This particular concept had been simmering in my mind for quite some time (years), but it took longer than expected to find all the right stuff, finalize the setup and bring it to life. The physical set up was quite challenging to secure, and I had to completely make up what the background would be. (Do you like my totally ridiculous mock up for the background in my set up? Maybe it would have helped if I had done more work on that in advance.)

While I used images from the original cartoon to source color patterns but not all the backgrounds were consistent in style! Like many creative projects, the entire process felt slow and tedious at times, but looking back, the effort was absolutely worth it.

This painting is packed with layers—both literal and conceptual. Here are a few interpretations to consider:

Why I Made This:

A Nostalgic Nod to Looney Tunes:
At first glance, this is a playful still life inspired by the classic Roadrunner and Wile E. Coyote cartoons. The suspended Acme anvil, the desert landscape, and the subtle “trap” elements all bring that world to life in a way that feels tangible and immediate. Not only were these cartoons iconic to my childhood, but illustrators and animators were some of the few people who kept traditional approaches to drawing and painting alive. Without them, I may not be where I am today and for that, I am very grateful.
The Coyote as an Under-appreciated Artist:
One of the most amusing spins on the cartoon is that Wile E. Coyote is remembered more for his failures than his solid painting abilities. As artists, we often resonate with this idea. Behind every success lies countless unseen attempts and discarded ideas. For someone who works in trompe l’oeil, I can’t help but admire the way the coyote could paint illusionary tunnels or make intricate traps—his failures were also his masterpieces. In a way, this painting celebrates that quiet persistence.
The Sisyphean Struggle of Artmaking:
Art often feels like the myth of Sisyphus—repeating the cycle of creating, refining, and falling short of the vision we hold in our heads. Each new work challenges us in fresh ways, pushing us to pursue perfection while knowing it’s ultimately unattainable. Wile E. Coyote’s eternal chase of the Roadrunner is a perfect metaphor for this: the chase itself is where the growth and discovery happen.

Visual Specifics:

The suspended anvil—an iconic symbol of impending doom—adds tension and humor.
The desert backdrop is a loving homage to the cartoon’s simplified, vibrant aesthetic while maintaining a painterly depth.
The skull and paint cans juxtapose life and artifice, grounding the surreal elements with a sense of reality and decay.
The Acme Dynamite Box – a classic
The bowl of birdseed introduce a winking absurdity, reminding us of the elaborate schemes that never seem to work.