IN PROGRESS: (April 12, 1998):
Worked on this for four hours between this morning and yesterday. Grandpa now has
the beginnings of a fishin' hat on his head! I don't regret this decision
at all - not one bit. I called Grandma today to wish her a very Happy
Easter. I feel so close to them both while working this artwork. I'll be proud
to hang this piece on my wall. Grandpa Wolf had no equal. I still can't believe
he's really really gone. His passing has left the world an emptier place.
He was one of the few in my family who knew how to love unconditionally - who knew
he was no better than anyone else. Drawing the details of his face makes
me warm and happy, and leaves me cold and alone as well.
IN PROGRESS: (April 16, 1998):
Everyone who knows me at all knows that I'm a nut about keeping diaries.
I've kept journals for years - recorded every single detail of my
miserable marriage, recorded every thought and emotion, every
high and low, the occasional acceptance, the ongoing rejection.
This HTML page - indeed, this very piece of artwork - has turned
into yet another journal of sorts. I can look at the details of
Conrad's face and recall my emotions and thoughts at the time they were drawn. I
can see the shape of his eyes - and remember that he was still
alive when they were drawn. I can see the shadows along the ridge
of his nose and recall that I stopped drawing them less than
two hours before he passed away - and just so happened to
snap photos of the artwork as it stood then.
I completed the minute details of his face today. I completed the outline of the
fishing hat that I started days ago. About five hours into it
today, I realized that there is no way I can sell this piece of
work. A friend pointed out to me today that if I were to calculate
a price based the unofficial hourly rate I charge for my work,
"No Greater Love" would come to about $1,400 - an obscene amount of money
for a pen-and-ink drawing.
And that doesn't count the tears and the
blood and the muscle cramps, the tired eyes, the cold nights out on the
LWMD dock.
The face is complete, but time-wise, this print is
probably only barely half-finished.
I thank my friend and associate, Owen, who offered today to
sponsor this print. With that, this print - not yet completed - is
retired to the Gallery with permanent sponsorship.
IN PROGRESS: (May 2, 1998):
Not a day goes by that I don't work on this print. The fishing
hat is now a bit over halfway complete. After the hat, I will begin coloring
the background black, starting at the top. When I get to where the neck
and shirt belong, I will draw them in - if I still have no signature
to include on the print. Quite a number of people have seen this print
now, and all have been amazed at the detail. It now commands more attention
than any other print on display in my home. That makes me feel wonderful,
absolutely marvelous.
IN PROGRESS: (May 3, 1998):
WOW! I've never done this before! While working on Grandpa's hat today,
I wore out the .25 bit Koh-i-noor art pen! I've been
using this type of pen for years and have never worn one out with
repetitive stipling. Until today. A $20 pen down the toilet, but at least I
got some good mileage from it - sort of. But, on a chipper note, after
about six hours of work today, the fishing hat is at about 80-percent
complete. Good thing I keep a new backup pen here. I just tore off the wrapping
and filled its new ink cartridge. The fact that it has a .35 tip instead of a .25 could be
a problem, but I'll try to get the other pen replaced promptly.
IN PROGRESS: (May 10, 1998):
As "No Greater Love"
nears completion, I no longer need my original working materials. Though I normally
keep all sketches, I decided to let this one go - and I gave it to Grandma Wolf.
COMPLETED: (May 25, 1998):
"NO GREATER LOVE," a 24x30 inch pen and ink portrait of the late Conrad
Wolf, was completed at 6:09 p.m. May 25 - after 20 nearly
continuous hours of work over the long Memorial Day weekend, and over 130 hours total.
It's only fitting that this coincided with Memorial Day.
Thanks to Weber and to Ken Reynolds, both of whom have stood with me throughout this
loss, and the ongoing healing process. This print has been a part of that.
I'm actually sad - very sad - that it is now complete. I've enjoyed spending
the time with Conrad over the months it's taken to create this. And we
have spent time. More on that at a more appropriate time.
Erica Coleman, my seven-year-old daughter, officially completed
the print on May 27 by
coloring in the last square inch of black background. I reserved that
honor for her, and she was very very excited about it. In the photo above, Erica
joins her two sisters, Marina Lynne and Kayla Marie at the completion.
So long, Grandpa. This isn't much of a sendoff, but it's the
best I could come up with. Peace.
