My Face as Depicted by an Illustrator

Carolyn’s Online Magazine (#COMe)

MY FACE AS DEPICTED BY

ILLUSTRATOR JOHN RITTER,

American Post Pop Artist

On May 28^th I entered Conte Design Lifestyle Gallery hesitantly, not certain what I would see when I entered the art gallery on the second floor.

On March 10^th I’d also climbed these same steps into the gallery. That part of my adventure is related in a previous article, John Ritter Featured Illustrator at Ligonier Art Walk 2016. Here is an excerpt:

• It took some kind of personal bravado for me to accept an invitation to participate in an art project, Ligonier in Person…a portrait series commissioned to American Post Pop Artist by the Conte Design Lifestyle Gallery, which would feature the work at the gallery during the Ligonier Art Walk scheduled for May 28, 2016, in Ligonier, Pennsylvania. The artwork involved being up to 20 persons being photographed by John Ritter, an American Post Pop Artist currently living and working out of Ligonier.

Elizabeth Fuchs, daughter of the gallery owners who works there, explained in an e-mail:

•  We were interested in displaying some of his (John Ritter, an American Post Pop Artist) pieces for the (Ligonier) Art Walk…he presented an idea…He would like to feature people of Ligonier by creating a wall of 20 portraits of people involved in the Ligonier community… Next to the portrait would be a short bio about the person. I checked John’s website (www.ritterillustration.net) to see some examples of his work. Hmmm…
• When I spoke with Elizabeth she convinced me to attend the March 10 photo-shoot. As reluctant and un-photogenic as I am—photographers usually detest being in front of a camera while they love being behind it— and as curious and hesitant as I was about what John might do with my photograph, I fearlessly stepped up to a seat and faced his camera, allowing him to shoot me under the Conte Gallery lights. Then I boldly asked if I could resume my role as writographer, taking pictures and notes as John continued photographing others.

The day of reckoning was here. Was I going to like what I saw? If not, how would I face John?

I needn’t have worried. The end result of his work looked like a painting.

The face he presented showed someone who takes joy in her work, her writography— writing and photography. In a corner he used my high school journalism press card. For background he incorporated a page from my online blog of my novel-under-construction on the left, and a lighthouse picture on the right, both emphasizing my New England heritage. The colors favored each other—he balanced my purple outfit with a blue-hued background.

I was also pleased to see that the face of a neighbor and a friend was included in the 13-picture grouping. I’ve written about John Miller’s experience of being in one of the New York towers when the airplanes hit the buildings. It deeply affected him. His picture bio shows his ability and inner strength, and that he’s been able to move on.

So hat’s off to John Ritter. I didn’t have to worry about facing him after seeing what he did to a photograph he took of me.

John Ritter and Carolyn Holland

Thank you George and Olive Conte (and Elizabeth) for including my face along with so many others faces involved in the Ligonier (valley) community.

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NOTE: The WordPress photo prompt for May 13, 2016, is face.