Robert Flinkman

Robert Flinkman
Portrait of Bill Flowers
oil on canvas
20" X 16"
1990
copyright 1990 Robert Flinkman

February 12th, 1990     Monday

Michael spoke about the portrait I did of Bill, and Michael was struck by the perception I caught of the emotional impact of this past decade on Bill. Michael realizes what I was trying to get across and accepted as such. Bill showed the work to Ed Franco, the aspiring comedian, who did not find the portrait at all amusing, "An insult," he called it, and told Bill that he should "take that picture down off the wall." Such remarks only  prove how really how much substance this work has. The fact that the portrait has generated a variety of comments proves to me how successful the work is. I was not hurt by Ed Franco's remarks, that an artist generates extremes in reactions is good. ..... To have elicited such strong reactions (I have heard of others as well), shows me I'm headed in the right direction.

June 7th, 1990            Thursday

While at Bill's yesterday evening, I looked at the portrait I did of him. Bill and Kurt were both in the room. Looking at it, I predicted that this portrait will hang in a museum. Kurt wanted to know why I said that. I explained that the portrait is not only of Bill, but also a picture of this past decade on all of us. Our features are portrayed in this work as well, and the effects this past decade has had on all us.