Louella, Acrylic on paper, 17"W x 21"H

Louella is the last painting Rick would complete before being diagnosed with AIDS. He painted it in a single afternoon, on May 4, 1995, while sitting outside on the deck of our home overlooking Lake Travis. The woman in the painting is the same character that appears in his earlier 1993 pen and ink drawing Contemplation. I had often remarked that the woman resembled my grandmother. So, he named this painting after his maternal grandmother, Louella Scharff. It is also the only painting he ever signed with just his first name.

Eleven days later, on May 15, 1995, Rick ran off the road and wrecked his car. He was arrested on suspicion of DWI. The next day he was admitted to the hospital and was diagnosed with hyper-mania caused by advanced AIDS. The DWI charges were later dismissed.

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