Special Projects: Painted Memories
In 1999, Irwin began a series of small paintings inspired by an old album of family photographs that belonged to his mother. Each painting is put together by combining selected sections of photos from the album, as well as other family photographs. Each painting in his 2004 book Painted Memories is paired with written memories and stories from his life.
(Click on thumbnail to enlarge image, and to view artwork data)
My mother and father and me in the park. I’m happy. Things will change in four years. I’ll have to share their attention and affection with a brother. -excerpt from Painted Memories
Copyright © 2020 Joshua Touster
Mom, Saul, and I with Grandpa and his touring car, a convertible with ever-seductive details. -excerpt from Painted Memories
Copyright © 2020 Joshua Touster
The Family. Dad and I in high-top shoes. My father had flat feet, so I had to wear orthopedic shoes. The logic seemed flawed to me; however, parental anxiety supersedes reason.
-Excerpt from Painted Memories.
Copyright © 2020 Joshua Touster
The Three Cigars. Dad Three Times. -excerpt from Painted Memories
Copyright © 2020 Joshua Touster
The military Touster’s. Ensign Saul and Privates Dad and Me. Four-years-olds Manny and I play soldier. I’m giving the salute.
-excerpt from Painted Memories
Mom and Dad in their cruise mode. -excerpt from Painted Memories
Copyright © 2020 Joshua Touster
Six Sauls on 52nd Street, Brooklyn -excerpt from Painted Memories
Copyright © 2020 Joshua Touster
Penn State College. Norma and I jaunt together. -excerpt from Painted Memories
Copyright © 2020 Joshua Touster
Three Mes; Sculptor. Painter. Potter. -excerpt from Painted Memories
Copyright © 2020 Joshua Touster
Fire Island, the beach. The five kids on the right are all Josh, the rest are David. Sondra is the mother in red. -excerpt from Painted Memories
Sondra bathing the boys. She did that often. I think it was aqua therapy. -excerpt form Painted Memories
Copyright © 2020 Joshua Touster
My in-laws Dolly and Manny, with the kids. -excerpt from Painted Memories
Copyright © 2020 Joshua Touster
Fire Island on the deck. Me and David. Murray and Danny.
I built the deck in one hot weekend. I learned two thing in the building, how to build a deck and never to build one again.”
-excerpt from Painted Memories
Copyright © 2020 Joshua Touster
29 West 36th Street, Manhattan. The Cinderella Gang. -excerpt from Painted Memories
Copyright © 2020 Joshua Touster
Cheryl and I kiss at our wedding. Josh takes pictures. David with long hair is bored. -excerpt from Painted Memories
Copyright © 2020 Joshua Touster
1970. Mom’s in front of the newly purchased house, Woodstock. -excerpt from Painted Memories
Copyright © 2020 Joshua Touster
The Millstream Motel crowd. -excerpt from Painted Memories
Copyright © 2020 Joshua Touster
The boardwalk at Long Beach. Manny, David with his new goatee, Doris and Kathy. -excerpt from Painted Memories
Copyright © 2020 Joshua Touster
At Renge-Join monastery with Kathy, her mother and father, daughter Hanna and grandson Zach.
My biggest disadvantage of being at one with these remarkably polite people was my dislike for seafood, seaweed, soy sauce and sticky rice. In the three weeks we were in Japan I lost fourteen pounds. Even McDonald’s Big Macs tasted of the ocean. -excerpt from Painted Memories
Copyright © 2020 Joshua Touster
The barn at Woodstock with me, Accountant, showing off his first trout, and Kathy. -excerpt from Painted Memories
Copyright © 2020 Joshua Touster
Touster used sections of 7 snapshots, of his wife and kids on the beach in Fire Island, to put together this painting
Copyright © 2020 Joshua Touster
Touster used sections of 3 snapshots from his childhood (only 2 are shown), to put together this painting
Copyright © 2020 Joshua Touster
Touster used sections of 3 photographs from his 2nd marriage wedding reception to put together this painting
Copyright © 2020 Joshua Touster