O.K.....I have a hard time trusting people....we all have our emotional baggage. But sometimes we can feel akin to strangers. That happened the morning we were scheduled to have Roger Thomas of the Piatto Novo of Sheraton Suites in Cuyahoga Falls as our model for three sessions. I had the opportunity to ride up to our studio in the elevator with Chef Roger. There was something familiar in his countenance that felt comforting to me. I had seen his look before in my own family. When I asked him about it, I found that his heritage was quite similar to mine...some northern European, including Wales, as well as some American Indian from the Blackfoot tribe. I really don't get into the ancestry thing at all, as that goes against my "living in the present" philosophy. But, all in all, I found it interesting. As I result, I found it a pleasure to paint him....I felt the intimacy that is necessary for me to turn out a portrait with feeling. I like the portrait. And I like Chef Roger. After the sessions were over, he treated all of us painters to lunch at his restaurant. What a nice, nice feeling.
