1995

This is a portrait of Mervin Schwartz, cabinet maker, trumpet player, watercolorist, second generation native San Franciscan and father-in-law. This image is from a 1950’s photograph taken at Pescadero when he was in his 40’s. His two daughters were newly born and we had yet to meet. That would happen years later when I dated his younger daughter, who became my wife.

Merv usually had dinner with my family on Sundays. We drank wine and talked art and politics, becoming good friends. At the time I was painting portraits of my wife and children, and he asked me to paint one of him. This portrait catches him in a proud moment after a successful fishing trip.