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, John D. Bailey, 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. He’s in Man in a Steel Helmet, my version of a Rembrandt I’ve always admired. I found this helmet on the same museum shelf as one very likeRembrandt’s. He’s also wearing a steel gorget I made for my own use (on my Medieval Artifacts page). 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 seemed 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 story (download) click here. King Elifeatures a friend of many years, the hero of a 1984 SCA Pennsic War battle. I am depicted prone in right foreground. To download the enlarged poster with the story of the battle and the painting, click here. I have done other portraits, but privacy is more important than advertising.
