The One-Armed Lion Tamer

The One Armed Lion Tamer. 9" x 12" portrait of Captain Jack Bonavita, animal trainer of the early 20th century. He lost his arm as a result of his encounter with the lion 'Baltimore' at Coney Island in 1904. Captain Bonavita appeared in the arena with 27 lions, a performance which no other trainer had ever attempted. He met his death on March 19, 1917, when he was mauled to death by a polar bear.

The One-Armed Lion Tamer

Work in progress. 9" x 12" portrait of Captain Jack Bonavita, animal trainer of the early 20th century. He lost his arm as a result of his encounter with the lion 'Baltimore' at Coney Island in 1904. Captain Bonavita appeared in the arena with 27 lions, a performance which no other trainer had ever attempted. He met his death on March 19, 1917, when he was mauled to death by a polar bear.

The One-Armed Lion Tamer

Work in progress today.

The One Armed Lion Tamer

More work in progress today.

The One-Armed Lion Tamer

9" x 12" portrait of Captain Jack Bonavita, animal trainer of the early 20th century. He lost his arm as a result of his encounter with the lion 'Baltimore' at Coney Island in 1904. Captain Bonavita appeared in the arena with 27 lions, a performance which no other trainer had ever attempted. He met his death on March 19, 1917, when he was mauled to death by a polar bear.
Work in progress.

The Flying Man of Coney Island

The Flying Man of Coney Island. By Julie Kwiatkowski Schuler.
 My representation of an event reported in The New York Times of 1880 describing “a man with bat’s wings and improved frog’s legs” flying over Coney Island.

The Flying Man of Coney Island

I've got all my holiday makers on the beach.
The Flying Man of Coney Island. Work in progress today. My representation of an event reported in The New York Times of 1880 describing “a man with bat’s wings and improved frog’s legs” flying over Coney Island.

The Flying Man of Coney Island

The Flying Man of Coney Island. Work in progress today. My representation of an event reported in The New York Times of 1880 describing “a man with bat’s wings and improved frog’s legs” flying over Coney Island.

The Flying Man of Coney Island

Work in progress. As you can see, I wasn't sure where I wanted that fellow's left arm to be. I finally decided that he needed to shade his eyes.

The Flying Man of Coney Island

The Flying Man of Coney Island. Work in progress today. My representation of an event reported in The New York Times of 1880 describing “a man with bat’s wings and improved frog’s legs” flying over Coney Island.

The Flying Man of Coney Island

The Flying Man of Coney Island. Work in progress.  My representation of an event reported in The New York Times of 1880 describing “a man with bat’s wings and improved frog’s legs” flying over Coney Island.

The Flying Man of Coney Island

The Flying Man of Coney Island. Work in progress.  My representation of an event reported in The New York Times of 1880 describing “a man with bat’s wings and improved frog’s legs” flying over Coney Island.

The Flying Man of Coney Island

New work in progress today.