'Cartoons on crack' to hit New York

James Thurman likes to describe his style of art as "cartoons on crack."

Exaggerated cartoon figures mixed with strange, sometimes disturbing imagery -- his description isn't far from what the average person might think.

"My style is morbidly cute - a twist on children's cartoon characters," Thurman said.

Thurman's synthesis of "real art" and bizarre cartoons are giving him the opportunity to showcase his art outside of Southeast Missouri. Thurman, a 27-year-old Cape Girardeau resident, will have one of his paintings displayed from July 6-26 at Viridian Artists, Inc., a gallery in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York City.

"I've always wanted my work on display in New York," Thurman said.

Thurman was one of 25 artists selected for the group show by curator Robert Rosenthal, a prominent art critic and professor at New York University. In all 2500 slides were submitted for judging.

His winning piece, "Check Please," features a man in agony and a large magenta creature popping out of the man's body. The man represents Thurman and the creature is Thurman's stomach.