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Elvis is sighted at a bus stop10" x 8", pencil on paper, 1997Sketched as the campaign to have the idea painted on the local bus stop in Tom's home neighborhood. Since then they have made more of a shrine out of the old trolley stop. he old bus stop bench is still there. Back in 1990's there was a radio station in Cincinnati broadcasting only Elvis. It lasted only a few years but Tom pitched them to allow him to made a window static cling decal for the passenger side window that allowed you to drive down the road with Elvis by your side. Tom's mentor, Ralph Cowan painted Elvis in Las Vegas. This is the main painting of Elvis at Graceland. It shows Elvis standing in white with a glowing yellow background. It was the first time Elvis was depicted with a high collar. It can be said that it was Mr. Cowan that started this manner of dress for Elvis. Mr. Cowan said that Elvis came into his gallery and took the painting wet. Ralph was in the habit of painting all the performers in Vegas.
This full length painting was commissioned in 1962 by Elvis while he was performing at Ceasar's Palace. It's the only portrait that he ever commissioned and is a prominent part of the Graceland tour. During the 1999 Auction at the MGM Grand, one of Mr. Cowan's paintings of Elvis sold for $45,000. The check that Elvis signed to the artist back in 1962 sold for $3,500. The print of Elvis is available in full length poster size (34" X 76"). Mr. Cowan painted the original back in 1962. It was Mr. Cowan's suggestion that Elvis be painted in a white suit. This full length masterpiece was the only portrait that Elvis ever allowed to hang in Graceland. There are only a limited number that Mr. Cowan has available and will personally autograph them. $100.00 US Ralph Wolfe Cowan 243 29th Street, West Palm Beach, Florida 33407 USA (561) 833-1615 E-Mail: ralph_cowan@hotmail.com Elvis’s birthday is on January 8th. |
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