Fiona Long Art

Tommy Johnson Portrait Finished!

Originally uploaded by fionalongart.

This is my portrait of the late, great blues music legend Tommy Johnson. I was commissioned to do this portrait by the Tommy Johnson Foundation. They are having a Tommy Johnson Memorial Festival this October to raise money for a memorial to TJ and road access to the memorial. This painting will be used as publicity material for the festival and will be displayed publicly at The Museum Of Art and History in Jackson, Mississippi (tbc). Tommy Johnson claimed that he sold his soul to a big black man at the crossroads (who people think is the Voodoo god Legba or the devil) in order to play the guitar. There are hints of this tale in the painting. Tommy Johnson’s niece, Vera, who commissioned the piece after putting it to the board has now seen it and said “…I have to tell you the portrait is beautiful it look so real. You are a great artist…” More recently she has said: “I hope you will be pleased to know my Board Members and family think the portrait you’ve done is simply beautiful. They were so happy today when I showed them the copy, You shall be a great artist one day and I’m pleased that Tommy Johnson was done by you. I must thank you again for such a well done job. My heart is full of joy because of you. ”

Click here to see the portrait being painted from start to finish. It’s interesting to view as a slide show. Just press the “view as slide show” button at the top of the page.