ric Clapton is the only painting I've done solely because someone requested it. My friend Connie Rosenbrock is a Clapton fan and asked me to paint him at a time when I was looking around for a subject. Since Connie had helped me through some painful personal struggles, I thought it was the least I could do for her. I was living alone for the first time and the loneliness resulted in a very prolific creative period of two years, starting here and lasting through the Pedro Zamora portrait. The hand is the only feature that offered a challenge over other head and shoulders compositions. I was afraid my unfamiliarity with the anatomy of hands would make it appear unreal compared to the face. That proved not to be a problem. Over all, it's a warm alive picture. The legend in the right corner reads, "For Connie Rosenbrock, the one I tell the truth."

1993
pastel on paper
18"x 24"
collection of Connie Rosenbrock