>>938833960
The way I started doing Elvis portraits for celebrities was actually kind of interesting in my opinion
I've always loved the music and at the age of 12 wanted to go see concerts I started MAKING FORGERIES OF FOX THEATER EMPLOYEE ID CARDS
100% true
I went to a concert at the Fox theater in Atlanta and I took a really close careful look at the ID cards the ushers wore
And I went home and created one myself and xeroxed it and made copies for my friends
I mechanically created plastic holding cases with pins in the back, replicating the assembly and housing of the real usher ID cards that were pinned to their shirts
My buddies and I used to show up EARLY at the concert wearing our ID badges, Walk right into the theater, And as soon as the music started we would go find seats and enjoy the shows
true
I was watching a concert in the ABSOLUTELY MAGNIFICENT ATLANTA FOX THEATER, when I saw something that changed everything for me:
during the concert there were people going in and out of a door that led backstage
and I said WAIT A FUCKING MINUTE!!
THAT'S WHAT I NEED TO BE DOING!!
NOT PRETENDING TO BE AN USHER
instead of just watching the show for free
I decided I deserved to be meeting the rock stars
So the first Elvis portrait I painted was for JERRY LEE LEWIS
He was playing a show in Atlanta at a music hall in Buckhead
when I presented him with the Elvis portrait, he flipped out
It was a painting of Elvis crying after his mother died
Believe it or not, (there's no reason to disbelieve me because All of these stories are 100% true, But I can't put a gun to your head and force you into believing me) Jerry Lee Lewis started CALLING ME AT HOME LATE AT NIGHT
should I say early in the morning?
can you imagine the abstract nature of having your mother wake up her 12-year-old son to say "GET UP! ITS JERRY LEE LEWIS ON THE PHONE AGAIN!"
And I know this sounds far-fetched and unrealistic. But it's absolutely true
Jerry Lee Lewis called me for 2 weeks