Torn Knees (Ellis)

by Godfrey J. Ellis – Acrylic 1990

The source photo of 10-year-old Braden Ellis was taken when he was sitting on the porch of the Huntamer family home in Lacey, Washington in 1990. We thought it was very cute. Braden is now a father of 3 including a 13-year-old. This was painted long before torn knees were a nationwide fad (who would’a believed it!) In fact, the torn knees were somewhat embarrassing back then! I don’t remember why I flipped the direction from the source photo (below), probably so that he was looking into, not out of, the painting. I had just joined the Olympia Art League and submitted this work. It was my first painting that was hung in a display – this one at the State Capital Museum.