Hope Floats, Acrylic on canvas, 16"W x 20"H

Just as the roller coaster was beginning to level out again, Rick had a heart attack on May 1, 1998. He was discharged from the hospital a week later and resumed physical therapy with Lynn.

Hope Floats was completed on June 1, 1998, and reflected Rick's optimism that he was going to come back stronger from his heart attack. The figure in this painting is the same shape as the figure representing death in his 1995 painting The AIDS Clock. The only changes are that now the figure wears a golden crown and is accompanied by a golden circle ringed with a crown.

This marked a turning point for Rick. For the rest of 1998 and continuing through 1999 and 2000, whether his health was good or not, he painted. He viewed painting as his gift from God and he would average at least one new piece per month until the end of his life.

Hope Floats was purchased by a gallery client on November 17, 2001.