Dennis Rodman: Painting the Man, not the Media Buzz

When I told people I was going to paint Dennis Rodman and get his signature, a lot of them said it was a stupid idea. They said he was crazy and I would never be able to sell it. He won five NBA championships, two with the Detroit Pistons and three with the Chicago Bulls, but his career was marked by numerous incidents of erratic behavior, including confrontations with coaches, referees, and players, as well as public displays of intoxication and substance abuse. His flamboyant fashion sense, multiple marriages, and high-profile relationships also contributed to his notoriety.

I told those people I didn’t care. I felt a strange connection with him. I remember reading a story in ESPN about how tremendously sensitive he is: “It wasn’t uncommon to spot Rodman moved to tears by homeless people, handing out $100 bills to them on the streets like candy”. It is not uncommon for people to focus on his tattoos, hair color, and outlandish behaviors while conveniently forgetting the positive impact that he has had on his teammates and those in his community. It is easy to dismiss the complexities of this human being while listening to the media noise. In his painted portrait, I attempted to capture the pensive part of his character, the deepness of this superstar athlete.

I was honored to meet him at the Chicago Sports Spectacular and have him sign this portrait. I hope you dig it too.