A lot of you may not know it, but Pablo and I were friends for some time before I took him fishing. We both enjoyed creating stuff, painting mostly. We looked alike too. Although I was younger, I also had that silly, dark-eyed stare that he became known for.
I had filled-in for him at several public appearances in New York in ‘61 while he was in Europe accepting the International Lenin Peace Prize for the second time. We really laughed about that later. And when he married Jackie (Jacqueline Roque) that year, I suggested that I substitute for him in the bridal bed that same evening. “Come on, Pablo. You’re 69 years-old for Christsakes!” I said. He lit another Balto, blew smoke in my face while coughing, and said, “69 says love, too.”
It became difficult to keep in touch. His fame and my travels to and from the planet Aarkon consumed us. We got together for a fishing trip in 1971, just two years before his death. My idea was to go deep into the Canadian bush to fish for the mighty Muskellunge and I was quite surprised when he arrived at my home that August with a sketchpad, a box of colored chalks and a set of 48 colored Crayolas. The next day, we were off on our adventure.
While in the boat, we talked about art. Pablo said that my simplistic, child like drawings were significant influences in his eventual creation of Cubism. We reminisced over his Blue Period, his Rose Period, and his return to what the critics called his Classical Period until we both tired of it. “Pablo. Shut up and fish.” I would say. He’d laugh while resting his head against the bow of the boat and sketching with his Crayolas. “Make sure you use all the colors evenly. I don’t want you to start that Blue Thing all over again.” I said to him.
On our fourth day fishing, I hooked and fought a huge Muskie that we later were able to net. “I’ll hold the fish while you take my photo, Pablo. Hurry!”
Pablo spoke in French. “I’m a painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist, stage designer. I am not a photographer. Perhaps I can quickly create an image with my Crayolas.”
“There’s a camera in my bag near your feet I said. Take the shot and perhaps you can create the image later.”
So, he took the photo that you see here, but he never did create the image of my landed trophy Muskie. Pablo died in 1973. It was in the month of April. I found this photo along with a box of 48 colored Crayolas, all worn to near the same lengths, in April of 2013. It inspired me to create the image of our last time together; an image that my Spanish friend no longer had the strength to complete.
The canvass now hangs on the wall of my den near the mounted carcass of the monster fish. I have titled the painting: “Picasso Goes Fishing” and have decorated my lucky fishing shirt with the image and memory of my good friend Pablo.
And as my good friend shared his art and good fortune with me, I will share mine with you. There is a limited quantity of these lucky fishing shirts available for that ardent, artistic fisherman in your life.
Purchase one. Pablo would want you to.
I really do like this one .. I must be losing my mind, much like you are….but no t-shirt thank you.
Losing my mind? Yes. I think it’s a side effect from my chemotherapy drugs. But I’m not losing my memory and I truly believe that Pablo would want you to buy one of these Tees. Come on you cheapskate. I need the money to pay my Obama Care Insurance Premiums …
Annie Lee: Perhaps you’d be more interested in the “Big Tease” Tee. These are available in V-neck women’s sizes only. A special gift from Jennifer, Queen of Aarkon!
(Okay. It’s not a gift. They’re 20 bucks each, but the Queen endorses the product.) Anyway, order them right here at this web site.