Finding Your Way Through The Fog

The Portrait Society of America Chairman’s Letter.

This year the Portrait Society of America celebrated its 20th year of operation, which is a milestone for any business, but it is particularly significant for a nonprofit fine art organization. It felt appropriate during my opening welcome to share the inspiration that led to the founding of the society. Quite a few years ago, I learned that good public speakers capture and hold onto their listener’s attention through the power of storytelling. The story that I shared Friday morning occurred over 41 years ago but I can remember it like it was yesterday.

I was just a few years out of college and trying to find a path to becoming a self-supporting artist: a goal that had burned inside of me ever since I can remember. To put it more distinctly I felt if I could not find a way, I wouldn’t be able to breathe. Many in the crowd nodded in understanding.

I had built a small, 260-square-foot studio on the edge of some Florida wetlands where I enjoyed the natural diversity of the wildlife in the area. It was not surprising one day when I walked out my door and came face to face with a barred owl sitting on the fence a few feet away. I moved to within an arm’s length and still this approximately 18-inch bird did not fly. But when it turned its head toward me, I saw that the usually deep brownish-black eyes were clouded and a smoky gray color, immediately I knew the bird was blind. With the assistance of a Florida wildlife officer the bird was caught, and together we took him to a local veterinarian who found thorns in her eyes. That evening, I found myself standing outside my studio door with a bag of antibiotics, a wild bird in a cardboard appliance box and a grinning wildlife officer who as he drove away yelled back, “You better get a book on falconry!”