This was the first painting that I was more than inspired to do of Karen. She was a 19-year-old student at the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee when I met her, and courting her soon became my full-time occupation. I carried her books to class, took her to Bible studies, and sat with her late at night while she was studying at the university library.
I met Karen at a young people's Bible study even though I was twenty-nine. I noticed her across the room as she sat on the couch. I was ten feet away, sitting on the floor. I wanted to know her, but the Lord seemed to tell me, “Do not be your usual forward self.” Still it was difficult to constrain myself, but finally the group thinned out as the clock approached 10:00 p.m. I was talking with the Bible study leader since it was my first time at this Christian gathering. Somehow he trusted me enough to ask if I could give Karen a ride back across town to her dorm because her ride had left without her. I did my best to contain myself for there was nothing in the world I wanted to do more!
That weekend she returned home to northern Wisconsin to be with her family. I called again and again because I wanted to be with her so much. By the third time we were together, I felt a need to be honest and transparent with her and disclose my intentions. “I’m a very serious person,” I declared. “My intention is to marry you.” Three months later while visiting her family, I put a ring that I had designed on her finger at Thanksgiving time. A month later I gifted this painting to her parents as a Christmas gift (bribe), and married their daughter six months after that at a prayer meeting in Cleveland.
Once her parents entered their eternal rest, the portrait found a home with us. I am amazed that the painting still conveys all those feelings that were woven into it a half century ago.
