Congo Preacher (Kayij-Wint)

by Godfrey J. Ellis – 12×16 acrylic 2020

This is the Reverend Kayij, the husband of the woman in the bright dress (“Congo Pride”) and the father of my colleague, Kaj Kayij-Wint.  Her father had recently passed on and this painting was commissioned by her as a memory of him and a tribute to his life. She offered to pay for it. Since I don’t usually do more than one “freebie” for a family, I told her it would be $100. So, this was my first truly commissioned painting. Another friend had given us a few hours of handyman work for a painting, but this was the first actual money. “If I’ve been paid for painting,” I later joked with Merry, “then I guess that makes me a professional artist.” “Yup!” said my best fan.

Here are some pictures of progress working on this difficult portrait: