On the Self Portrait

The toughest job I ever had:

When I taught at West Texas A&M, I had an older student in a handful of classes, both Printmaking and Computer Art. Her 15 year old son had cancer. They were selected by the "Make a Wish" foundation and over time her son Josh declined and eventually died. Shortly before he died, she came to me to ask me for a favor. "Could you please design a headstone for my son Josh"? I immediately knew that her respect for me as an artist was WAY to high. I made some pretty neat stuff, but I considered it all to be fluff. I couldn't imagine creating something that would be the enduring symbol for someone for the rest of time. or another 4 or 500 years if you have seen any old cemeteries lately. I said yes, and of course immediately started to panic. I met with Josh a couple of times before he died. Talk about a surreal experience. Trying to figure out what image to put on a 15 year olds gravestone and talking to him about it as casually as what are we going to have for dinner. Well he may have sounded casual but I thought I was going to throw up or start crying at any moment. 

For any self portrait or portrait you embark on, think of that, and try and figure how would you want the world to see me when I am gone. What can I tell them across the ages in a picture.

On my resume, I list all the museum collections and exhibitions that I am in or have been a part of, but I think maybe the most significant work I have ever done stands in a field in Canyon Texas. Maybe I'll add it to the list.

Paint on