John Malkovich

I don't know much about John Malkovich other than what I have seen on the screen. In life, he's a relatively private individual. His father, Daniel Malkovich, was a state conservation director and publisher of Outdoor Illinois, a conservation magazine. While his mother, Joe Ann, owned the magazine. Because of his father's work, the Malkovich family is widely regarded as one of the founding families of the environmental movement in Illinois.

I saw this photograph of Malkovich and immediately liked it. It's full of character. And very different. And cool. Which seem to match the man himself. And at 22x28" it is one of the newer, larger palettes that I am starting to really enjoy. Painting now more than ever, I am in a "groove" and absolutely loving it. This has allowed me to notice an evolution in my work. Let me know if you notice it, too. As always, enjoy. And let me know what you think. Thanks.

Georgia O'Keeffe II

This painting marks a trio of new ventures for me.

I believe that Georgia O'Keeffe is the first person I've painted twice. See the first from 10.9.09 here. It's a younger Georgia from a photograph taken by her husband, Alfred Stieglitz, in 1932.

Also, at 24" by 30", this painting is one of the largest I've ever done. Many have suggested that I paint larger than my standard 20" by 24" palette. I really like the larger feel and effect!

Lastly, this painting marks the first time I am selling my work. Recently, I was invited to exhibit at a friend's gallery in March. Click the link for more info. I'll be there on the "First Friday" event on March 5. I will have more to sell there as well. Just finished one of Jon Malkovich which turned out very cool. I will post that shortly. Just starting another of Miles Davis. Then, Al Franken. Then, Jennifer Aniston. Then, Michael J. Fox.

I should do one of Linda Ellerbee. "And so it goes."

I love it.

Audrey Hepburn

She has been considered one of the most beautiful women of all time. The styles that she embodied continue to be popular among women today.

Still, Audrey Hepburn did not place much value in fashion. Nor did she consider herself very attractive. In a 1959 interview, she admitted to having "underlying feelings of insecurity and inferiority." "I couldn't conquer these feelings by acting indecisive. I found the only way to get the better of them was by adopting a forceful, concentrated drive."

After her final film role in 1988, Hepburn harnessed that drive as she was appointed a goodwill ambassador to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), a role that she embraced. Over the next four years, she traveled to Ethiopia, Turkey, Venezuela, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Sudan, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Somalia, helping deliver critical aid and medical assistance to some of the most impoverished children in the world.

After her death in early 1993, a UN photographer said, "Often the kids would have flies all over them, but she would just go hug them. I had never seen that. Other people had a certain amount of hesitation, but she would just grab them. Children would just come up to hold her hand, touch her – she was like the Pied Piper."

Oscar winner and fashion icon, yes. But Audrey Hepburn proved to us all that there is so much more that we can contribute to this world.

Beautiful.