oil 18x24
Alan Ronk is the founder of the Community Foundation Serving Southwest Virginia. Upon his retirement, I was commissioned to paint his portrait by his board of directors. The background was designed around the image of a vintage magazine cover that has hung framed in his office from the beginning the Foundation, which emphasizes his love for fishing. The book in his hand is Stories of Mark Twain, indicating another love.
a reel guy
alan ronk
oil 30x40
I was commissioned to paint Dr. Ed Murphy’s portrait posthumously, which is always challenging. I painted Dr. Murphy standing in front of one of his many great accomplishments during his stint as CEO of Carilion Clinic, the new massive wing of the Community Hospital.
ed murphy
ed murphy
oil 24x30
James Updike was a long-standing judge of Bedford County Virginia. As Judge Updike’s service was coming to an end due to a much deserved retirement, I was commissioned by an entity that I am not permitted to name. He was thrilled with the whole process and asked if it would be ok to be painted wearing his Steelers tie. How could I say no.
steelers benched
Judge James Updike
oil 16x20
This posthumous commissioned portrait came from her loving husband, Colonel David Lofgren. The beauty and magic of oil paint is that it can make someone appear to be alive. To be able to paint this for the Colonel was not only a pleasure, but an honor.
joanne
joanne
oil 48x36
Dick Daniels and David Page are the talent that forms the Q99’s Todays Hits and Yesterday’s Favorites, top rated morning show. Dick and Dave stand firmly behind community events like their radiothon, Dick and Dave’s Miracle Day for Children, which raised almost $3 million for our local children. Since I could not work in the station, I had to create it from photos they provided.
fun with
Dick and dave
Dick Daniels and David Page
oil 36x48
Joe Cobb was elected Mayor of the City of Roanoke in 2025. He is Roanoke’s first openly gay Mayor. Joe is the chaplain at Hermitage Roanoke, as well as the coauthor with Leigh Anne Taylor of Our Family Outing: A Memoir of Coming Out and Getting Through. Joe’s true character pops right off the canvas. The ruby red shoes tie into his story coming from Kansas.
meet joe
joe cobb
oil 36x48
Maestro David Wiley is the Music Director and Conductor of the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra and conducts regularly in New York. I painted David and his lovely wife in fun and festive garb that gives the sense of movement and music. The background was designed from the handwritten scores that David composed for the movie Lake Effect staring Jane Seymour.
on that note
David and Leah Wiley
oil 36x48
Joe Gaither is a youth basketball coach who led his teams to regional and national championships for over forty years. In this painting, the triad composition of head, ball, and bible was perfect for controlling the eye movement through the painting, but my favorite element is the hand written plays on the chalk board backdrop. As I was completing the portrait, I asked Joe to send me one word that he felt is most important from his coaching. He sent “Integrity,” which I added last.
coach
Joe Gaither
oil 36x36
Dr. Brenda Hale served in the US Army (1978-1982) as a registered nurse. Brenda has held the position as president of the Roanoke Branch NAACP since 1982. She is a fierce advocate for civic and social justice throughout Virginia. The background on this painting simply depicts all the people Brenda has helped over the many years of her service.
make a difference
brenda Hale
oil 36x48
Dan Casey has been Roanoke’s best know and most controversial journalist for more than 40 years writing for the Roanoke Times. Dan has used his position to help people with the red tape society and people unjustly treated, even getting a man wrongly accused of murder released from jail. Believe me when I say, there is a story behind his hat and his t-shirt.
the paper boy
dan Casey
oil 48x36
Ginger Poole - actress, director, choreographer, creative director, and former Atlanta Falcons cheerleader - helped lead the charge in bringing Mill Mountain Theatre from the brink of destruction to a powerful presence as a highly successful professional theatrical venue. It was fun to place her on a stage with all her play scripts scattered about, and her signature fuchsia velvet shoes.
center stage
ginger poole
oil 36x48
Nancy Agee is a nationally recognized leader in health care, and became CEO of Carilion Clinic, Roanoke, in 2011. Her last of many enormous accomplishments before her retirement in 2024, was seeing the ground break for the new Taubman Cancer Center in Roanoke, which is designed into the background of the painting. Why the Diet Dr Pepper in the scene? Because Nancy drinks them everyday!
legacy of a ceo
nancy agee
oil 36x48
The now retired president of Virginia Western Community College, Bobby Sandel, turned a sleepy post-secondary school into an educational leader and economic cornerstone of the Roanoke Valley. Bobby wanted to be painted with his beloved dog Pearl - that was it, nothing else. Pearl stole the show!
pearl of wisdom
Robert Sandel
oil 36x48
The Fralin Family name is a monument, with Heywood at the center. Their impact on the Roanoke region ranges from business ventures to art philanthropy and shaping a major medical educational institute with Carilion and Virginia Tech. The 7 little forgeries in the background are all in his private collection, and will all be donated to The Fralin Museum at the University of Virginia, as well as my painting of him. Lastly, you will notice the newspaper in his hand - it signifies his first job as a paper delivery boy at age 13.
