In a way a scientific illustration of a heart, laying within a chest cavity, is more “real” than a photograph of that heart. A photo will focus on the heart OR the cavity where an illustrator will depict both simultaneously in focus. In the “real’ world all things are in focus but “real” is also the fact that our eyes focus on only one object at a time.So which real is more real?

There are many ways I depict my husband John realistically. Below I tell you he’s a guy, a big shouldered warrior, grounded because he’s green, a sweet heart with kissy lips, short legged with big feet and hands and is extremely important to the universe because he’s double framed.

When Green John hung in a Portland Oregon gallery the picture TOLD ME something I didn’t yet know about Johnny.  The gallery, Art Home, is owned by two great guys and many of their clients are gay and were totally intrigued by John’s supposed proportions. They stood in groups around Green John, nodding and grinning, then their eyes searched my John out and they nodded again. I was beside Johnny when we over heard someone say, “I wish I was so well endowed!”

I flipped my eyes into my husband’s, afraid I’d embarrassed him. Oooooh, no! He pulled his shoulders back, lifted his chin up. A photograph of him in a gallery would never have shown me this piece of reality.  nancymauerman.com

Green John – Framed