I thought I would see if there was a way to get an early release, so I got a pass to go to the library to look up some law books to help with my case. No harm in trying, right?

 

There was a magazine on the front desk that the guard was going through. As I flipped through the pages, I saw an article with pictures of Beethoven.

 

This was not that drawing. It was spread over 3 pages. I asked if I could take it back to my cell to work on paper. The guard said that I could, if I were to draw a picture of Beethoven for him. About a week later, I had his likeness down, but instead of a baton, I inserted the lightning bolt.

Not enough to give to the guard. So, what happened from there was patchwork for a background to jazz the picture up.

 

There is a drawing of just Beethoven that he wanted with the baton and an orchestra background. He just wanted Beethoven, all by himself. I drew this.

 

I added the rest of the background at my own discretion. Checkerboard style, (not hardly), but stark white and black to put the picture in the foreground and make it stand out. Where the building came from, I really don't know, or

don't want to remember, perhaps.

 

Nonetheless, it all fitted for me. It was all done in pencil shading. The color was added years later. Now, the only surviving one was not the

original, not the subject himself. Anyway, this is what I have. Fun to do.

​

-Peter