Crossroads
 

As transcribed by the nurses at the St. Francis hospital as I wandered in and out of a frost bite coma:

Mike: This is the place, Suzi. Like I said – the tracks actually cross.

Suzi: This is great. It’s exactly what I pictured in my mind. Let’s get out there and get started.
What are you doing?

Mike: I’m grabbing my camera.

Suzi: Oh, no. I’m not going for some portrait done from a photograph.

Mike: You mean you want to pose out in this blizzard while I paint this scene from life?

Suzi: I’ve seen your portraits done from photographs and frankly, they just didn’t make it for me, it’s just so much fluff:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3kTYCLSgsg

Mike: But you’re a bio nuclear chemist with a minor in acrylics. I’ve been a semi-professional portrait artist for ... a lot of years.

Suzi: I’m sorry, Mike, it’s just not my kind of art.

Mike: I have other stuff, you’ve seen my closet.

OK, I said, I'll try.

At first my brush flew across the canvas; my edges were varied, my impasto’s were beautiful frozen peaks. I was so cold – I wanted to quit, but Suzi, she held her pose steadfastly, one foot on the tracks as she wailed out: “Long Train Running” on that 12 string Fender:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSedE5sU3uc

How could I quit in the face of this?

Slowly, no, quickly, my fingers became numb and I began to drop my brushs in the snow. I cried out: I can’t do this! I’m not good enough!

In shame I grabbed my portable photo taker from my back pocket and I snatched this image of Suzi as she walked away – down the tracks and out of my life forever.

That was last Christmas day. In May I left the hospital with most of the feeling back in my toes and fingers. Recently I authored this fleeting image of Suzi. She wanted to call it “Crossroads.” It certainly was that.

Suzi, 16x24, oil on linen

Old Fender has broken a lot of hearts.

:)

I got these in a late Christmas card from somewhere on the tracks in Minnesota. She looks happy enough. She's going to need a bigger coat.

Xo

I´m cold just looking at your painting. Love the way you handled the hair.
Cross the charco next time and do the painting from life over here!

Feliz año, everyone!!

Carlito,

You should be more careful with your invitations. I've got 26 confirmations so far. We're flying over in Chris Saper's jet. Notify the wifey that we will expect paella and Spanish wine upon arrival,,, oh, and some sort of dessert. Some of that Spanish flan with fruit on top and a sweet wine would be nice.

Also, 18 in the company are single men. A date for each? Actually, 9 for the bunch would probably do.

We won't stay long ... we should be gone before Valentines day.

We're very excited - see you in the morning!

Miguelito, looking for Suzi on the tracks.

Heading south? Beautiful painting. Love the thread.