FIGURE PAINTING PRESENCE

“Executive Shoe Shine”–Clin-ton

Two days ago I finished a new full sheet watercolor painting! Plus, I’m getting another watercolor, “Grooves,” ready to show in West Jefferson, with the Watercolor Society of North Carolina in their upcoming October annual juried art show, but more about that, later.

In answer to a long-term friend, Rebecca Graham’s question upon seeing my work, “Is this a still that you painted? Where did the inspiration come from?” I have to say, this latest watercolor I’m calling a figure painting launch as it’s my first, makes it, of course, a portrait painting as well. However, I’ve done watercolor portraits before. I’ve done figure painting in watercolor before too, but I haven’t entered any of them in shows. They were done mostly as sketches in figure drawing classes on inferior quick-sketch paper, or as preliminary studies for my oil portraits.

The subject of this painting is a man I met in the downstairs lobby of the Reston Hyatt-Regency in Washington, D.C., or Reston, Virginia, to be more accurate on the very weekend of the Portrait Society of America’s annual convention and International Juried Show. I introduced myself to him and he to me. His name was Clinton, pronounced in a much stronger way than usual, indicated by the dash, Clin-ton. He was so friendly and delightful. I was tired from racing to seminars and convention specials, between venues temporarily. Being the good salesman that he was he wanted to shine my shoes. I looked down at them and saw that, indeed, they could use a good shine, so I said yes, but then remembered I had no change on me and told him I’d have to come down later.

He named his price but told me I could pay him later. Wow, I’m not sure I’d have been so trusting, but he assured me it was okay. I climbed up the massive piece of furniture to the leather seat and watched him shine and polish while we talked random subjects. He told me he hailed from Selma, NC, originally and I was amazed he had lived so close to me. I grimaced a bit and said, “where all the race riots were.” He acted as though he didn’t know what I was talking about.

We talked about Southern delicacies like okra and other good foods he ate when he returned to family reunions in Selma. He asked me why I was there, and I told him I painted portraits. Probably showed him a few I’d done. I had a new business card with a portrait on it I gave him which he exclaimed on and gave me his card for Exec-U-Shine, his second business. He was retired, but he needed the business for his sanity he said, which I understood a hundred percent. I didn’t notice the quote under his business name Exec-U-Shine until after I was home, but I laugh with delight now at “Politically Correct Shoe Polishing.”

When he finished, I was refreshed, my shoes looked great, and I’d made a new friend. He was beautiful in every way, and I asked him if he minded if I took a picture of him. At first I didn’t think he was going to let me, but then he gave me permission to do so along with permission to paint him. I can’t wait to contact him and let him know I think it’s done.

Clinton Hodges, Owner of Exec-U-Shine

I’m about to enter it in a show, now, under my title which I tested on Facebook and got rave reviews from Rebecca Graham that went like this: “Oh My Gosh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!???????????????????? joANNA ?????? This is flipping INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!!!  “I loooove ‘Executive Shoe Shine.’ Gosh, I’m so struck by him. You have drawn me in and made me want to know everything about him… his birth story, his childhood, his injustices, his triumphs, his great loves, his favorite foods, his view on God, his world view. I just want to connect with him. And is that a cup of java I see?? Ha! Every good gent needs his fuel! Wow. Jo, you make me feel like I’m right there in front of him. I can smell the shoe shine and hear his old man breathing grunts as he positions himself to shine on. His tennis shoes, those chairs! The detail is phenomenal. I can’t quit looking at it!”

Well, here it is, then. Wish me well on my show entries one of my students Allison Coleman who attended two PSoA conferences with me commanded me to do after saying she thought it was her all-time favorite work of mine.

Oh, and I just remembered, Clinton gave us a shortcut home that probably saved us three hours travel or sitting in traffic time. Thanks, Clinton. ‘Til we meet again, because I am sure we shall!