A new acquaintence

A beautiful day and I intend to paint all afternoon!  Have been working on my tractors and am happy with it so far.  Detail takes a lot of time, but is worth the effort if that is the look you are going after.  Sometimes, very little detail appeals to me.  I might try this both ways.  We'll see.  I have a bridge painting in mind next.  But I also want to continue with my paintings of the museum construction site.  I have three of those completed so far.  The construction crew I had scanned last week.  I fixed some problems on "Coppering the Roof at Crystal Bridges" and will take that back to be rescanned.  It had some value problems that I have now resolved.  I guess I had better stop looking at it or I will always find something to change.  Artist's lament.  The gentleman with red/white/blue hard hat will be my next subject - just too much fun.  And he kind of slouches, which he would hate I am sure, but I love it. 
     I should count the painting of the gentleman I met at the overlook titled Old-School Gentleman  as part of that series of paintings.  He probably doesn't like his wrinkles, but it was what made him beautiful and interesting to me.   I approached him and told him I thought his face was amazing and asked if I could paint him.  He was a little skeptical at first, but after talking for a few minutes he consented, and I took one photo.  It has been over a year since I met him there at the Crystal Bridges overlook, but I believe his name was Mr. Beck.  91 years old at the time, and a WW2 veteran.  He had been a pilot in China.  Had a son that had been interested in art at one time.  A charming gentleman, I enjoyed him very much.  Alice Walton and the new director of the museum were there at the same time.  But to my eye, he was a standout.   I hope I will see him again so I can show him the painting.   Thanks for stopping by.

"On the first day of spring I dig my fingers deep into the soft earth.  I can feel its energy and my spirits soar." - Helen Hayes