The Downeys

I go way back with this amazingly talented family. I met the first Downey, Jimmy while attending junior high school together. He was preppy and wore Penny loafers but he was so funny smart and charming. One day at school in the 9th grade knowing that I had a rock band recommended my band to be in an underground movie called “Chafed Elbows” his brother Bob was shooting. We filmed our scene had a great time and that was the beginning of a great relationship. I was 14 years old but I tought I had the world at my feet, ya know being a movie star and all at 14.

Bob and I kept in touch and the following year Bob called me and asked if me and my band mate Glenn Berwin would write music to his lyrics for a rock band he wanted to create. The lyrics were outrageous needless to say like… “Who's the prick who put the nick on my Mustang “ and others just as funny. What a magical ride. We'd rehearse in a garage on 12th street and university place. We'd take our equipment up the incline in the garage to a tiny room with a light bulb for light and an open bathroom with urinals right behind the wall where we rehearsed. Bob was quite involved with the underground scene in NY and was quite the legend wherever we went. He would take us to Max's Kansas City where the underground nightlife exploded with beautiful people and some not so beautiful, but introduced me at 16 to the artists of NY. Bob was so free with his humor and accepted everyone just the way they were. The more nuts they were? The more Bob enjoyed. He was an amazing role model for a young me as he accepted everyone the way they were which allowed me to enjoy my own quirkiness the way I was. After rehearsals sometimes we'd go to Bob's apartment on 13th and University place. While in his apartment we'd smoke Marijuana while his children would be running around in their tidy whities. YES that was Robert Downey Jr just being a normal 3 year old getting the second hand smoke from our dalliance in the pot trade. Later on I felt guilty after the issues Jr had in his life, I hate to think I contributed to that.

I painted this after Bob passed away and jr did the fabulous documentary he did as his father was dying. A brilliant job by Jr honoring his father's brilliance and coming to terms with his difficult childhood, making peace with his dad.

I love the Downeys and yes I wanted to honor them, so I painted them.