This painting was commissioned a little over a year ago before the whole Covid 19 debacle / tragedy. I was asked to paint a portrait of Del Shannon, the Rock n Roll legend whose hit song Run Away was number 1 on the charts in 1961. He was also famous for other hits like Little Town Flirt. It was commissioned to be a centerpiece at the entrance of a Museum tribute to Del in Battle Creek, where he lived and raised his family. BUT, then Covid happened and the exhibit was cancelled. However, the painting now hangs in the home of the commissioner, James Popenhagen who continues to honor Del with The Del Shannon Show where he preforms set of Del’s songs in concerts around the world.
It’s a Watercolor and collage portrait (see post below for Battle Creek Enquirer interview) to be part of the Del Shannon exhibit in the Battle Creek museum. BUT THEN Covid happened . . . and very little else. It’s a large painting, different than anything I’ve done before with the collage background. Del’s most famous work Runaway (#1 on the charts 1961) in his wife’s hand {written in the car on the way to New York to record the LP) and another Little Town Flirt in his own hand.
The painting is done mostly with watercolor on watercolor paper. But there is also some collage with various textured rice papers. The songs Run Away and Little Town Flirt were printed on rice paper and incorporated into the background.
Randy Louise Art 