Roy Jones Jr. Acrylic paint on 12" X 16" canvas panel. Art by Coyote Duran
Years ago, my friend Brad Cooney contacted me about doing an acrylic commission of former pound-for-pound great, four-division champion and (as of next year!) International Boxing Hall of Famer - and Brad's friend - Roy Jones Jr. as a gift for Jones himself.
Hell, I jumped at the chance. I mean, who wouldn't? The problem was I didn't - couldn't, really - jump all that high at the time.
You see, back then, I was going through a divorce. I was damn near homeless without the grace and generosity of my parents preventing such an indignity and I drank anything that wasn't nailed down just to get through my day. (I still drink but back then, I think I drank a sandwich, a stapler and half a bicycle pump. It was rough.)
Days, weeks and eventually months went by and I was only drawing for me, just to remind myself that I could and so I could get my emotions out on paper. Rightfully so, Brad was disappointed but he understood. The piece never saw the light of day.
However life got better. I got better. My Tracy and Makayla came into my life and fixed what was broken. My art came back to life and so did I. Yet I still didn't do this piece.
Until last year.
See, I decided that, before I went on to a much bigger boxing art project (which will be officially revealed in 2022), I would revisit this painting (acrylic on 12" X 16" canvas panel). Based on the original photo reference Brad provided, I rendered something with graphic design inspiration and less-than-literal representation.
As you can see by the date on the finished piece, I rendered the entire painting in June of last year, then sent it to Brad. However, as we all know, we were all hip-deep in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic (my timing is obviously impeccable), so Brad wasn't able to deliver it to Roy after I shipped it out. That said, I'm certain it'll find its rightful home soon. The bottom line is I fulfilled a promise (on the house. Brad waited too long. There's no way I would ever charge for something that ultimately took this long, especially for the champ) and I'm extremely proud of the result, especially since this is the first official Roy Jones Jr. piece I've ever done, as opposed to what you all might believe is the first. done earlier this year in ink and marker.
The hits will keep coming; I promise!
Questions? Comments? Complaints? Commissions? Hit me up at artofthepaw@gmail.com. You can also follow me on Twitter @CoyoteDuran, on Instagram @CoyoteDuran and on Facebook @CDCreationNation.
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