This is a ballpoint ink portrait of my Uncle William. *1-15-19: Yesterday he passed away and it broke my heart.
Gone Too Soon
He was a light in my life and so many others. A legendary host at the Comedy Cellar and a doctor of healing laughter. He was a spark in the family and reportedly my grandmother’s favorite.
He convinced me to have an internet presence and was my biggest fan. I can’t express how much he will be missed.
Ballpoint Ink Portrait; My Uncle’s Afro
He asked me to draw a portrait of him for his profile. I finished it two days later. I was excited to post it even though I liked it as a drawing, but not as a likeness.
The photo of him during a big hair experiment is the one I chose to use for the portrait that he requested. It turned out the afro needed too much attention. The afro was short lived; he said it was too much trouble, but It fit my natural hair theme.
Of all the portrait requests I have gotten, I am so happy that I finished this one. Portraits can be difficult. Often they come out spot on, but more often than I would like there is no likeness. Ugh. It may be that I am rusty; I do need to draw more often. Other times I think it looks like them, but the subject disagrees. This was good practice.
About This Drawing:
This ink portrait drawing lives in my sketchbook. I drew two. The first one was horrible. Since all my supplies were packed, I used a uni-ball jetstream ballpoint pen. He loved it and asked me to put it on a t-shirt.
He told me if he had his face on a t-shirt he would wear it everyday.
Hi Rebecca, I love this portrait of William. As a longtime friend and colleague of his, I think it’s such a wondrous portrait of him. Bravo!
Best,
Ted
Thank you a lot; I appreciate your kind words.
Ted said it all, I love it and I think it looks just like him.
Well! If YOU think so, then it must be so.
The more I see this portrait, the more it looks like my brother!
Yes it is growing on me too.
He was so incredibly funny and i am so very sad he is gone…i love this portrait. It looks just like him! If you ever decide to sell t-shirts with this wonderful art on it, i would love to buy one. I am a comic too and he is one of the reasons i got inspired to get out there.
Thank you!! He encouraged me too! He pressed me about getting a Facebook page for years. The t-shirts do exist at his request get yours here: https://linesofexpression.shop/
I love your portraits! I think it looks like Uncle Stevie! I see his presence and CHARACTER, where YOU may see a lack of likeness!
Thank you cousin! SO many people share your opinion that I have to reconsider my assessment. The main thing is that HE loved it. I appreciate you saying so. Big hugs.
Hello! I was a friend of williams from stand up, and would loVe to purchase a sWeatshirt. Such an amazing Drawing. Pls tell me the best Way to purchasE one! Thanks!
OH!! Thank you for the kind words. Absolutely! My uncle had some GREAT friends. The sweatshirts are still for sale in my shop at https://linesofexpression.shop