My Hero Portraits-

Disclaimer; there are too many heroes in my life to paint. I've decided that the requirement and deciding factor has to be the impact that the person had on a community and that they have passed on into the next world. The only exception to this rule is that I do take commissions and I do paint my children every 3 to 4 years. Dating back to college I painted my version of the official Presidential portrait every new term, but the people I paint have obviously had a more personal impact on my life. The last President I painted a portrait of was President Barak Obama. It has become more difficult to paint a portrait people I only know through the media. Though it was fun to paint a portrait of a president I actually voted for (first one in my life 1-4) (Could not vote for presidents while I was living in the USVI in the 90's). It is a more meaningful challenge to paint the spirit and likeness of the people I know personally and as I remember them. I like having hero paintings around because they remind me to live everyday like it's my last.

The first hero portrait is my good friend Gawain Mainwaring. Gawain was a huge presence in the West Asheville community especially on Brucemont Circle. We were in the West Asheville baby sitting Coop together, we played softball together, camped, partied, and watched many sporting events including Gawain's favorite the Carolina Panthers. Gawain battled cancer for many years and did so with grace and courage. Ironically he passed away on my birthday a week from Super Bowl 50. The panthers ended up losing to the broncos as we gathered together to celebrate Gawain watching the game in the Mothlight. The painting came from a photo taken by Artist Paul Olszeski during a WAWL whiffle game when a rainbow appeared behind Gawain in left field. I'm pretty sure film maker Rod Murphy exclaimed "A GAWAIN-BOW!"



The second Hero portrait is of Sandy Tattersall. Sandy was like an older brother when I was growing up. He was a huge part of Camp Timanous in Raymond Maine where I spent all my summers till I was 17. He was my Crows Head Counselor in 1976 and later my mentor when I returned to camp 33 years later with my own children. Finding the right photo to use for his portrait was the first challenge. With the help of Kasey Suitor I decided on a photo from the year I was a Crow Camper and he was my Head counselor. There are so many stories I could share but the reaction I got from people at camp this past summer as I was in the process of painting it says it all. People were visiting the Handi-Craft shack just to see the portrait of Sandy. I gave the painting to Sandy's good friend Pineman. I think it's still at camp in Sandy's old cabin or Tattersall Hall. We all loved him and we all miss him! he was huge! A great Friend! A legend!

The Third Portrait is of my friend Fred Watts from St. Thomas USVI. Fred's Wife Polly hired me as an art teacher for The Antilles School in 1991. Polly picked us up at the airport on a hot day in August in an "island Jeep" with a tape deck playing something LG (my Pirate Bride) knew and could sing. Well, Polly took a liking to her immediately. Fred and Polly took us in and helped us navigate through our years and adventures on the Island. There were many adventures. We sailed many of weekend with them on their beloved Amazing Grace and years later along side on our own sailing vessel and home.  Music was always the main theme but what I loved was when Fred would go into one of his many stories with that distinct island accent he had acquired over the 30 plus years he lived in St. Thomas. LG sang in their band, we joined them for many thanksgivings, and we even share the same wedding anniversary (with a few years apart). Fred gave the toast at our "Pirate Wedding" on board a 70 foot schooner. They were our Island Family! Fred was a great friend and the painting was a joy to paint. It didn't come alive until I added the Tropical colors! Thanks for all the stories and adventures Fred!

Those three portraits represent the three most important places in my life. My next portraits will be the next series of portraits of my children Halsey who is 18 and Zada who is 15. They are as important to me as any place I've ever lived.