Behind The Art: No Filter

Some heroes wear capes.

Mine held a microphone.

I was a young kid when I first heard Richard Pryor. I had gotten out of bed to use the bathroom, and on my way back, I heard something coming from my big brother’s room. I could not hear everything clearly, but I definitely heard the cuss words.

So I opened his door like a SWAT team kicking it in.

“OOOOH, I’m tellin’ Mom!”

Before I could slam the door and run off like a good little brother should, my big brother snatched my arm, shut the door, and covered my mouth all in one move. Then he made me a deal. If I promised not to tell, he would let me stay and listen to the record.

That was the first time I heard Richard Pryor.

It changed my life.

Richard was unapologetically, one hundred percent real. When he told stories, you felt like you knew him. You knew the characters. You knew the pain. You knew the humor. You knew the world he was bringing you into.

To this day, my big brother and I can sit in the backyard doing Richard Pryor bits for hours, laughing until our stomachs hurt, our cheeks hurt, and tears soak our shirts. That feeling never left me.

Richard Pryor is one of the reasons I became a comedian, a successful radio morning show host, and an entertainer. I wanted to be like him. I wanted to make people feel the way he made me feel.

Years later, when I was in my late twenties, I had the chance to perform live on a show where Richard Pryor was the headliner. I met him, took pictures with him, and walked away with memories and conversations I will never forget.

SAVO with Richard Pryor — a full-circle moment with one of his heroes.

So how could I not paint my hero?

Richard Pryor did not just change comedy culture. He changed culture. Every comic owes something to Richard. Every one. He changed how people approached the microphone, what they could say into it, and how much truth they could bring with them when they stepped on stage.

He was not just a punchline comic. He was one of the greatest storytellers ever. He could take a full fifteen-minute story and turn it into a roller coaster. Pain, laughter, truth, timing, character, and humanity all working together at a master level.

That is what I wanted to capture in No Filter.

The original was painted on a 12 × 36 inch acrylic canvas, so the tall format shaped the direction of the piece. I wanted to catch Richard mid-joke, in that moment where he had the crowd in the palm of his hand.

The painting was purchased in Los Angeles at an art show in the DTLA Arts District by a collector who bought three originals that night.

When someone stands in front of this painting, I hope it brings back a memory. Maybe the first time they heard him. Maybe the first time they laughed so hard they cried. Maybe the person they used to listen to him with.

To me, Richard Pryor is more than a comedian.

He is a legend.

An icon.

A master at his craft.