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By 1981 my drive was still there, yet showing signs of
slowing down. However, I still studied her face. My only purpose was to create a
work which was undeniable in its own right. A work which simply could not be denied.
Obviously this was not it. I can not say that I even remember the name of this one.
I recall selling it for $100 to some guy in a bar.
As a result of selling this drawing
at the bar, I got another commission for Lucille Ball. The man who commissioned it
had been a long time fan of the comedian and desperately wanted to meet her.
He came up with the bright idea of giving the portrait to Lucy as a gift and she
would have to meet him. I knew differently but could certainly relate to his
desire. Nonetheless, I was certainly not going to be the one to burst his bubble
and lose a commission at the same time.
Although Miss Ball politely declined
his generous offer, the portrait I drew of her was an instant hit. I got enough orders
within a week to afford printing the work in a very limited edition run. The added
income from the Lucy / Queen of Comedy reproductions also made it possible for me
to consider drawing a second work to accompany it. Naturally, there was only one
logical choice. It was going to be Barbra.
By the time I finished the portrait I could see that
I had achieved something special with this work. As with all of my previous Barbra
drawings, this one provided a great lesson and began the style and method with which
I currently employ when drawing pencil portraits.
Streisandesign was a bigger hit than
Lucy. And The Celebrity
Series was born.
I sent a couple prints to Columbia
Records, knowing the original people I had dealt with were also as absent as the
security guard and secretary. I was at long last informed that my work was very good
but that Columbia really had nothing to do with the cover work on the album and that
they had no manner in which to even submit such a thing. Eventually I happened upon
what was "suppose" to be Barbra's home address in Malibu. I mailed a print
there too. To this day I still have no idea who's house I sent that to but I never
did hear anything back.
Insofar as I am aware, none of my work
actually did reach the mark.
  
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