Case Study #72 - Júlio Enjoying the Afternoon

"Júlio Enjoying the Afternoon" Oil on Canvas. 2020. 30" x 24"

Born in Brazil, Júlio César is a 33 yr old man currently living in Mateus Leme. Júlio was 6 months old when he was diagnosed with NF1. He is one of 5 kids including his 4 brothers and sisters. Júlio was adopted so he is not sure if his birth parents had NF or not.

Prep Sketch

Júlio does not have a job and currently lives with his mother who takes him to his various doctor appointments since he cannot drive. He has had about twenty surgeries due to his NF, mostly when he was younger. These took place in Rio De Janeiro. Now he goes to the NF Clinic in Minas Gerais. His doctor, Dr Luiz Osvaldo studies NF treatments in the United States to keep current. Júlio is apart of a NF group in Brazil mostly online through a WhatAp group.

Because of NF, Júlio was born without his left eye. Having just one eye is something he is used to now, so it doesn't really bother him. Besides the large plexiform tumors on his head, he also has small tumors covering his body. He also has a plexiform on his arm as well as his belly and back. The doctor is concerned about the tumor on his arm but is waiting to see what happens.

Júlio likes to travel. His favorite place to go to is the beach often especially in the town of Guarapari. He says that he has a nice quiet life.

Case Study #7 & #71 - Henry Checking the Weather

2019 ~

6 Years have passed since I completed the original painting. I was fortunate enough to have an exhibition at the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art in St. Joseph, Missouri this year. I've been exhibiting this painting around different venues since I painted it. After 6 years, my son is no longer a 4th grader with a pocket weather alert system. He is a sophomore in high school who would never wear a plaid shirt and he hates wearing jeans as well. He typically only wears long sleeved t-shirts of

 his favorite teams (KC Chiefs being his all time favorite). I wish I could say that he wears a coat when there is snow out on the ground, but he goes without whenever he can. He uses his phone to check the weather now. He has not changed his mind about his vocation as he still wants to be a meteorologist. The new sketch simply reflects the same theme, but is much more who he is today.