Man with Dolphin Hair

About the artwork

Here you see a man with a rainbow-like hairstyle. I do a lot of little portraits, and this one is a remembrance of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, when I was living in Minnesota and Prince was just starting out. At this dance club, First Avenue, they had various kinds of performers. At the drag show, there was this black guy with a hysterical haristyle. It was meant to be funny. These were just local kids in costume, and he was singing an Aretha Franklin song. I recalled that during the making of this image, years later. I was trying to figure out who it was about, and the hairstyle was similar to a dolphin. Sometimes when I’m making paintings I start with the idea of a portrait but I don’t necessarily know until I get into it what it’s about. But then I have to think about it, because I know I have to come up with a title.