No. 137: Smoke Up

Christmas 2011

His name was Lorrain.
Lorrain Irwin Wills. He put up with people his entire life, saying that's a girl name.
Truthfully he was the manliest man a kid could ever hope to know.

I decided to hang Grandpa permanently over the bar. It's an appropriate location.

He had an important money job, a big office, loads of friends. Drove Thunderbirds. Was a sharp-dressed man. Made quality time for his family.
Had a self-propelled mower in the 1970s.

Click on each image to expand.

SMOKE UP, 3' x 4'  December 2011

This particular picture comes from a black and white photograph, on Kodak paper, taken in 1963 on the front porch of my parents' first house, on Estabrook Northwest, Warren, Ohio. I actually think that I remember this day, though I know that's impossible.  I was only about 18 months old.

What I do remember is that pipe. Grandpa always had a pipe.

I'd play with his spares and try to be a man like him. And I remember the taste of that empty pipe: Acidic. Sour.

But when he filled it with Half and Half pipe tobacco and lit it up, it was the finest aroma.

Finished sketch on my drawing table.

My grandmother was somewhat of a neat freak who tolerated the pipe but, as their style and status grew, made Grandpa smoke outside. Near the end he swore he'd quit. But I knew he had a smoke kit in the trunk of that blue Thunderbird, and that he'd smoke up on every errand he could find.  Grandma had to know.
It's not what killed him. It might have kept him going so long.

Finished sketch, with a photocopy for reference above.

The black and white photo has been in a vintage frame in my basement for several years. I had just finished a sketch of my brother and I, circa 1960s, for my dad for Christmas 2011 when I decided to tackle this. I knew that it would be a challenge. 

Below are some steps in the creative process.

 

At this point, nearly completed. Needs final detailing and shading.

Trying to figure out how to place his feet, and their shadows.

Sketched in the folds in Grandpa's pants.

I've got my feet on the ground, but half of Grandpa is missing!

Working from the top down.

The framed photo, the laptop image, and a photocopy reference.

A rough version of my face.

A rough take on his hand and face.

On the porch with Grandpa, 1963.

This large sketch, which I still have to frame, is my Christmas present to myself. I feel good looking at it, and I felt good doing it and remembering those childhood days. 

I used to keep lighters, matches and a cigar cutter inside of one of Grandpa's Half and Half cans. But I gave up cigars this year, and dumped the accessories. I don't have any hidden in the trunk of my car.

I kept the Half and Half can, however. It's a little rusty inside. Nicotine'll do that to ya.

Smoke Up

A Tom Wills Production, December 2011.

To inquire about a special family portrait, email hankbonesman@embarqmail.com or willstom01@gmail.com