Zarqawi Cover, June 12th 2006
What a week or two I've had. I worked like a dog in the days leading up to my annual vacation to Martha's Vineyard. It was a tight schedule and if all worked out as planned would end with me going to Carnegie Hall to see my postage stamp unveiled. After finishing my last piece, a large illustration for the New York Times, I went out to dinner with Elizabeth and relaxed with a bottle of wine. I came home to a message on my answering machine. Could I do a rush job for Time? IT was 11:30 on Friday night. I called back, go a machine, and said that I could not do it, citing the rushed schedule and the pending vacation. A few minutes later, in my 'Swingers' moment, I called back and said I could do it, maybe. Not satisfied I e-mailed and explained that I could do it.
At 12:30 AM I finally talked to the Art Director and was asked if I could paint Zarqawi for the cover. I said I could do it if I could skip the sketch and go right to finish. The source image was the black and white Zarqawi image that has been circulating as of late. I go the 'GO' and went to work. Bye the morning I had a soft image of Zarqawi and for the next few hours painted hairs, knitted portions of his cap and skin texture. At noon I shot it and sent it to Time. I then packed for vacation and got ready for Carnegie Hall.
