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SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER 201 3
IN THE BACK
arts
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
TYLER OXENDINE
When portrait artist
Carl Hess
contacted the Pat
Summitt Foundation last year to create a painting
commemorating Summitt’Äôs career, he had no idea
his 24’Äù x 36’Äù portrait would end up above her couch.
’ÄúJust to know that it’Äôs something that’Äôs going to be
in her family for generations is a great feeling,’Äù says
Hess. The portrait tookmonths to complete, and it
highlights Summitt’Äôs career spanning from the 1980s
through 2008. Summitt unveiled the portrait in
January duringWe Back PatWeek, andHess couldn’Äôt
be happier with the result. ’Äú(It’Äôs) an absolute portrait
of perfection inmymind,’Äù says Hess. ’ÄúIt’Äôs good just to
capture her moment of being a champion.’Äù
Hess hails fromMemphis, where his sixth grade
teacher discovered his talent and enrolled him in
classes at theMemphis College of Art. His subjects
include President Obama and Bill Haslam, as well as
professional athletes, bishops, and federal judges.
Carl Hess with his portrait of former Lady
Vols basketball head coach Pat Summitt.
Hess chose eight photos of Summitt
that represented her career and its many
triumphs to include in the portrait.