Len
Watercolor
28" x 20 1/2"
©Kesler Woodward 2005
The Executive Committee of the Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF) board of trustees met in La Conner this week, and I decided it would be fun to do a portrait of my good friend Len Edgerly, the current board chairman, to surprise him and them when they arrived and met the first afternoon in my studio.
It was a great treat to see the look of surprise and delight on all their faces as they came into the studio and recognized him, about 3X life-size, looking at them from the wall. And especially wonderful, as it always is when people see their own portraits for the first time, to see Len's reaction.
I hadn't done any more portraits since completing the series of ten even larger (40" x 30") oil pastel ones that I showed at Well Street Gallery in Fairbanks in July, 2004, and I wasn't sure I'd ever do any more. I never seem to know what I'll work on next until I find myself doing it, but it was so fun, challenging, and rewarding to try to "capture" a little of another friend that I may well find myself doing more.
"Old Growth Monarchs" is my new favorite, but I really like what you wrote under the newest post, "Old Growth at Rockport". Your description emotes strong feeling and I'm glad you continue to visit the park. Also, you must be painting furiously...it's only Jan. 20th!
Posted by: R. Rawl | January 20, 2006 at 05:16 PM