about this project

Johnny Cash was commissioned by William Shuart. He asked me to do a painting
of Johnny with the finger. The history is that Johnny was on stage at San
Quinton Calf when Jeff Richardson with Rolling Stones Magazine went up to
Johnny on stage and asked if he could take a picture of him for the Warden.
That was Johnny's reaction. He hated authority and had been arrested
himself. The warden of San Quentin Prison in 1968 was Lawrence E. Wilson. His image is subtly superimposed on the end of Johnny Cash's knuckles in the painting, symbolizing the authority and presence that loomed over the historic performance.

Started the painting Feb 16th 2021 and completed June 6th, 2021