I’m not a portrait specialist, but have always believed it’s one of the things complete painters do. Photos were essential references for all of those shown. My fencing master, who gave me so many valuable life lessons, inspired my first attempt. Dr. Henry H. (“Hank”) Swain became my art patron in 2010 when I did Magura Woman from a photo taken by his wife Vicki. Later he agreed to sit for my version of Rembrandt’s Man in a Golden Helmet, a painting I have always admired. He is wearing a steel gorget I made for my own use (click for photo). One of Hank’s favorite stories was of Von Meegeren’s Vermeer forgeries. Lunching atMetzger’s in Ann Arbor, we noticed the stained-glass window light looked rather Vermeer-like. And that our server Lisa would make a nicer “Milkmaid” than the model Vermeer portrayed. The result was my own Vermeer send-up, Gut Trinken und Essen. For the complete storyclick here. King Eli features a friend of many years, the hero of a 1984 SCA Pennsic War battle. I am depicted prone in right foreground. To view enlarged poster with the story of the battle and the painting, click here. I carefully photographed the Young Man in his favourite meditation spot with elements of his own avocations.
