Yesterday I watched on TV, once more, The Quiet Man, my favorite movie ever. It is a very simple story about a man who wants to start a new life, in a very special place. Every time I see it I enjoy it like the first time. Everything fits in its place: Innisfree, a little village in Ireland, which here is Paradise; all those wonderful characters beautifully portrayed by John Ford, and so well played.
So, it was only a question of time I decided to draw John Wayne, although I picked as a model one picture that belongs to another different movie, The Searchers. I think Wayne’s face here has a very strong power, with his hair falling over his eyes, and a growing beard that gives him a very western style.
This portrait is also a promise I made, so here it is, Ray, it’s up to you, comrade!
