I was lucky enough to have been delivering the Herald Examiner downtown when you were painting "Steve McQueen and used to stop every day and talk to you about my experience’s with him at Indian Dunes motorcycle park. I have showed so many friends the mural over the years and was so happy when you redid it after it was covered up…>Thank you Kent for you wonderful vision all over So Cal…!!!

Thank you Grady. I think this mural carries with it something of the spirit of the 60s. It was stream-of-consciousness, very personal and right on the street. I feel good about it’s survival all these many years and I am thankful that the neighbors protect it from the vandals as much as they do. So many of them grew up with it and they consider it a part of their lives.

It is so great to see this again, Kent. It has always been one of my favorites of your murals!

Hi John, Your paintings are fantastic! I am also eventually going to add to Open Museum but can’t seem to find the time. It’s a great place to show and see good art. Yes, I knew Strother during the time he worked on Sssss.We were friends between 1971 and 1980, when he died. He and his wife Helen lived near Malibu Lake and I used to visit them there.

Wow. I of course know of you and your work but had NO IDEA there was a Strother Martin mural. Myself, I didn’t really know of the guy until I saw this weird made for t.v. movie in the 70’s called “Sssssss.” It was about some crazy backwoods guy (Martin) turning people into snakes or merging snake and man, something like that. He worshipped the animals and ends up getting bit by a king cobra that he takes out toward the end of the film. Since then I started noticing him in all that was more legit.

Horrible law!

Much thanks for the details!

Nice.

Hi Kent, I’m working on designing a mural for community participation next year here in Vista CA. I was doing a little research on mural material for exterior application so I don’t have to shlep dibond panels. Are you using a Pellon product or one from QST in Chicago (polytab 20/80), or is there someplace local that might carry the material like Nova Color? Thanks so much!, Lori

Okay, I just returned from a stressful putting to the fabric store. No. County SD is void of selection. Joanne’s Fabric had a rack FULL of selection but not the right things. And who can read that eensy beensy type at my age? The best I could do was 90 poly/10 cellulose (rayon). One has glue on the bottom side. I didn’t know if that would be a problem. Its just for a test anyway, so I’m cool. I called Nova but they only carry canvas. I guess I will special order later…. ;-) P.S. do you coat both sides?

thank you for sharing parts of the process. I love hearing about the values and the materials you use. You are a giant among artists my friend, a genius and a great painter.