© Irene Nowicki 2003, 24x36", oil on canvas From the Artist: "The inspiration for these paintings comes from attending Dixieland Jazz shows where my husband performs. I was moved by that 'foot stomping, hand clapping, knee twitching, head shaking, feel good' music and decided to use 'Black Humour' to interpret and depict the fun and absurdity of Jazz language in my paintings."

From the Painting Guide: I think you've certainly captured a "feel good" feeling through the bright colours, exaggerated forms, and energetic figures. My favourite part in this painting is figure on the left whose points of white hair look like the points of the white stars found in the blue on the American flag. The extreme foreshortening on the right hand really brings the hand and instrument out towards you, creating a great sense of three dimensions. My least favourite part is the figure in pink at the back, which is so dominated by the other figures that it's lost, you only see it as an afterthought.