Back to the Drawing Board

For many years, I have claimed to be an "artist" in my spare time. It's something I found at a young age that filled a certain void, burned up some time and allowed me to escape everyday life for a few hours here and there. Last year, I was introduced to doing portraits of bikes on the track through Scott, an amazing man (who happened to take equally amazing pictures). Scott raced... Scott LOVED to race.... Scott LIVED to race.... and race he did! So, as his birthday rolled around last October, on the same weekend he was racing at Daytona, I thought he might very much like a portrait of himself on his rocket as a gift. It was my first attempt at such a portrait, and Scott lit up when I gave it to him.... mission accomplished :) Happy birthday Scotty!

After that portrait was done, I wanted to do another, so we poured through many many pictures until we found one we could both agree on.... Nicky Hayden in the '05 American GP at Laguna Seca.....

The Nicky portrait did well in the public marketplace. I turned it into a limited edition of 50 prints, and sold quite a few before I pulled them off the market. So, in continuing with the Repsol theme, I did one of Max Biaggi to follow it up.....

Scott didn't agree with the Max choice... mostly for the fact that he didn't have much of a following. He was right.... the portrait didn't do so well in the marketplace. So, the next one was Mr. Mac's choice. He suggested Rossi, and had some fantastic pictures of him from Laguna on the 50th Anniversary Yamaha... and so the work began. I got the portrait sketched out and "approved" by Scott ;)

It wouldn't fit on my scanner bed, but you get the idea. I was working on this picture on January 7th of this year (while recovering from minor cancer surgery.. in a pleasant pain-pill induced fog) when I got the most horrible news of my life. Scott had been killed in a tragic accident while working at his job as a motorcycle escort....

I put my pencils down, closed the pad and walked away from it..... I actually walked away from reality that day too, and it took me a while to find my way back.

I didn't pick it up again. I didn't want to. I couldn't even look at it again until July.... and that's all I did, looked at it and put it away.

This morning it hit me. I don't know what it was exactly, but all I wanted to do was flop on the couch, break out all of my art crap and work on Rossi's portrait. It had been ten months (to the day) since I had held a pencil. I had honestly thought I would never put pencil to paper again.. I just didn't care about it anymore. So, when I felt so strongly compelled to draw today, I was not going to ignore it.

I picked up right where I left off in January. It was a personal victory for me, hence the reminiscent content of this entry.

Anyway, here is what I accomplished today, and I will scan in and update from time to time as I get more done..... in between the REAL entries ( I promise, no more of this personal triumph garbble :) )

Until next time......

Rubb'er Down :)