In the early 1970’s, while looking for a tool in the basement of my apartment building in Richmond, Virginia, I found an odd looking device. It turned out to be an airbrush and compressor. I played around with it for a while, using it mostly for adding shadows to a comic strip I did for the school newspaper. Then I began painting with it, using acrylics. Around 1980 I made a painting I named “Mel’s Last Cigarette”. The painting was approximately 4×5 feet in size. I entered it into a show at the Mint Museum in Charlotte soon after it was completed and it won a purchase award from Knight-Ridder publishing company, then the owner of the Charlotte Observer. I often wondered what ever happened to that painting.
Today I came across a photo of the painting, plus some sketchy comments about what happened to it. The photo of the painting (below) and comments were posted on Google Plus. My favorite comment was “For a while that painting was also in the basement hanging in the Electric Shop”. So it goes…
“Mel’s Last Cigarette” by Gregg Kemp, acrylic on canvas, circa 1980.
Thanks to Stephen Gilbert, whom I’ve never met, who posted the photo on Google.
I hope my art work will be so highly appreciated as yours Gregg.
(Ps Love your “About” description.- but I think you should smile if you ever update your photo)
I worked at The Observer for 20 years. Of all the art that was displayed through out the building this painting was by far my favorite. I worked 3rd shift in pre-press for about 5 years and the painting was right above my computer. Thanks for the memories…