The Blues Man

Acrylic on Paper
23" x 30"
Courtesy of Hearne Fine Art Gallery
Little Rock, Arkansas

I was in San Antonio in early May. I was invited to speak at an elementary school to some art students. During the question and answer session, the teacher showed me some beautiful drawings created by one of her students. She told me that the student wanted to be a graffito artist. She went on to say that the student was really serious about the graffito form of art. We even looked at a magazine specializing in graffito works.

I had looked at art that was drawn on some of the walls here in Houston, but I never thought seriously about it. That visit to San Antonio changed me. Although I didn't utilize the works like I could have in my painting, I did suggest the art form on the wall behind "The Blues Man."

People tell me that cities like New Orleans are good venues for great Blues music. I am going to throw Houston into the mix. In Houston, we have some of the best Blues to be found anywhere. Third Ward and Fifth Ward vibrate all through the weekends with great music.

At the Museum of Printing History (Houston, Texas), we had an exhibit of Blues photos taken throughout Houston's inner city area. We hired two Blues musicians to play during the opening of the exhibit. When the music started, all of the blues musicians who were present for the opening joined in and began to play. It was one of the most exciting events that I had ever witnessed.