Dolores Hope was announced to receive her star on the Walk Of Fame on May 1, 1997. The announcement probably came a few weeks early as most of them do. Of course I knew this was a golden opportunity to try to get Bob Hope to sign a painting so I set all my sights on getting this portrait painted.
At my first opportunity, I raced down to my favorite shops in Hollywood that sold celebrity head shots. This was in the days before I had my first computer so going down to Hollywood was about the only way I had to get an image to paint a portrait from.
I had 3 favorite shops that carried a pretty large variety of head shots and I found the perfect shot of Bob Hope to paint. I always know the right shot when I see it. I look for a combination of elements that make up a complete picture. I always prefer to have them looking directly at the camera. I look for any expression that says, "This is me!" It's easy to find pictures of stars but it's not always easy for me to find the right picture to paint a portrait from. When I found this particular head shot of Bob Hope, I knew it was exactly the one I had been hoping to find. It was soooo Bob Hope. I usually like to give myself about a week or so to paint a portrait and I had plenty of time to paint this one. Once I saw how the progress was coming along on his painting, I arranged to get the day off of work.
I got to the site where the event was going to take place a couple hours early, just like I always do. Getting there before the crowd is the only way to insure that I'll be able to get my spot of choice, standing in the crowd.
Being that Mr. and Mrs. Hope were now getting up there in age, the press and the photographers were there in force. There was a 3 tier platform set up just for all the photographers to shoot from and everyone was getting in place. Johnny Grant tested the mic to make sure everyone could hear him, just as he always did. The media was all set to go and it was now just before ceremony time.
The Hopes arrived and they took their seats that had been set up for them on the sidewalk. Bob Hope was a bit frail and he needed help sitting in his chair and also getting back up again. The ceremony got underway and it was another speech by Honorary Mayor of Hollywood, Johnny Grant. I kept listening as Johnny made his announcements. He introduced the Mrs.Dolores Hope, Mr. Bob Hope and also their children that showed up for their mother's celebration. The only child that I can recall by name was their daughter Linda. Johnny Grant went on to announce some of the Hope grandchildren that were also there for that special day, among them was their grandson, Zachary.
AHA!!!!! This young man was going to be my link that I was so desperately looking for. I'm guessing Zachary was about 18 to 20 years old and he was not used to this kind of event. The celebrities are of course used to hearing their names shouted out from strangers trying to get their attention. They have dealt with this for years so it makes no sense at all for me to yell out, "Mr. Hope!!!" thinking I'm going to get his attention so he might see that I want him to sign my painting. I don't mean to say that stars are rude but they just can't turn their heads to see who's calling every time someone yells out their name, it would be virtually impossible. Their daughter Linda had been around the limelight enough to also be prepared for people calling out her name...... but Zachary hadn't.... :)
The ceremony went off perfectly and lasted for the usual 20 to 25 minutes and after that, the family and friends that gathered were just milling around congratulation Dolores Hope. I was standing there watching the Hopes and waiting for my moment of opportunity to reveal itself to me. Linda Hope was now standing very close to me, maybe about 15 feet away or so and I thought about it for a split second but then thought to myself, "No, she's too seasoned." I waited patiently as the family kept walking around saying their congrats... when Zachary was now coming close to where I was standing. I kept watching him and waiting. He got to where Linda was, about 15 feet away and he wasn't talking to anyone... and my moment was just about here. The noise of the crowd died down enough to where I was comfortable knowing that he'd definitely hear me when I call out his name. He was in the right spot and he didn't have his back toward me. He was looking down the street and I was looking at his profile. This is important because it's easier for his head to react in my direction when he doesn't have to turn all the way around, 180 degrees. I kept watching as he stared down the street, his head at a 90 degree angle to me. His gaze came a little bit more in my favor when he started moving his head in my direction and now it was less than a 90 degree turn for him and the crowd was quiet enough, "Now was the time."
"Zack!" I blurted out, loud and clear. Not being used to people calling out his name, he looked at me instantly and I asked him if he could get his grandpa to sign my painting for me. He looked at me with an "Oh yeah, sure, I'll try" kind of look. He came to me and he took my painting to Ward Grant who then took it Mr. Hope.
Bob Hope was too old and too feeble to sign my painting while standing there on the sidewalk. Bob Hope had my painting in his hands and he kept looking at it. He was standing facing the press and they were looking at him and seeing the back of my painting. They wanted a picture of him holding my portrait so they began to chant,"Turn it around. Wow, I couldn't believe it. The chant grew, "Turn it around, TURN IT AROUND!" But it was no use, it was just too much for him to try to turn the painting around and show them so they could snap a pic of it.
Bob Hope's publicist, Ward Grant, came up to me and asked if I was the artist. I told him I was and he said that Mr. Hope just isn't able to sign it right here and he asked me if I could go to the reception across the street where Bob would be able to sign it over there. Of course I could and I did.. gladly. They took my painting in the reception where Bob Hope was now sitting at a table, waiting for my painting. He signed it as he sat there and one of his family members brought it out to me in the lobby, signed. He wrote, "My best Bob Hope"
... TA DAAAA!!!!!
Bob Hope was too old and too feeble to sign my painting while standing there on the sidewalk. Bob Hope had my painting in his hands and he kept looking at it. He was standing facing the press and they were looking at him and seeing the back of my painting. They wanted a picture of him holding my portrait so they began to chant,"Turn it around. Wow, I couldn't believe it. The chant grew, "Turn it around, TURN IT AROUND!" But it was no use, it was just too much for him to try to turn the painting around and show them so they could snap a pic of it.
Bob Hope's publicist, Ward Grant, came up to me and asked if I was the artist. I told him I was and he said that Mr. Hope just isn't able to sign it right here and he asked me if I could go to the reception across the street where Bob would be able to sign it over there. Of course I could and I did.. gladly. They took my painting in the reception where Bob Hope was now sitting at a table, waiting for my painting. He signed it as he sat there and one of his family members brought it out to me in the lobby, signed. He wrote, "My best Bob Hope"
... TA DAAAA!!!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment