“Maybe we should say cheers to something,” Jet said.
I smirked. “Like what? Cheers to our health?”
“No, that's too lame, besides, we are too young to worry about our health.”
“Oh, is that right?”
“Let's toast to a great working relationship, and an amazing grade on your project.”
“I'm impressed, that sounds fantastic.”
We held up our glasses and said, “To the project,” while clinking the glasses, both with smiles on our faces.
“So Jet, aside from your jock status, what educational aspirations do you have at school?”
“I'm not going to lie to you. I have none, I truly hope to ride this MMA career all the way to the top and never look back. I'm not interested in a regular job, I love what I do. I know you don't think much of us jocks, but I couldn't imagine doing anything else. I think that's probably how you feel about your art.”
I hadn't really thought of it that way. Many men have made great careers out of sports, becoming rich and famous. However, there were also many who never went anywhere, their dreams of heading to the top dying quickly. In that regard, it was very much like the art industry. There were many artists who made it to the big time, but there was just as many who never went anywhere. Their names disappeared, and their art ended up in garage sales. Jet didn't want that future, and neither did I. So maybe we did have something in common, after all.
“Maybe we should get started, then.”
He smiled and shrugged his shoulders. “Sure, what do you need me to do?”
I got up and pointed to the wall. “I would like you to stand against the wall, using it as a backdrop.”
“Should I take my clothes off?”
I laughed, “Easy there, cowboy. I need your clothes on right now. So let's not get ahead of ourselves.”
“Poor sport.”
“Don't play too much into your reputation there, Jet, you don't want to disappoint me.”
“You're right about that.”
“So shut up, and get over there,” I said, pointing at the wall.
He got up off the couch, laughing. “Whatever you say, beautiful,” he said, and walked over to the wall. I had cleared the area to make sure there was enough room. I had considered having him sit or lay down but in order to show the changes I wanted, I needed to be able to show him full length, so standing was the best way to do that. He stood against the wall, his body tall and firm. He was actually the perfect subject for the idea I had for the project, so my excitement was building as we were getting started.
I set up my easel and got out my pencils. I chose the appropriate HB size, and placed my sketch paper onto the easel. I settled myself comfortably and looked over at my subject, considering how I was going to begin.
“I hope you have strong legs because you're going to be standing there for a while.”
He shrugged. “I'll survive.”
“Don't worry, I will give you an intermission.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“Now stay still. You can readjust yourself, but very briefly, and you can't change your position.”
“Gotcha.”
I began by sketching a broad outline of Jet, putting down on paper a base idea of his shape and stature. I had done this a million times, and the process came very naturally to me at that point. I used long strokes with the pencil. Once I had the base outline in, I could then start to add details slowly, one area at a time. I always started with the head when it came to drawing people. I liked to make a person shine through, to see life come out immediately. You couldn't do that with a torso or clothing, and I wanted to see the person represented right away. Then I would have something to gaze at while I filled in the rest of him. He stood there for a long time while I sketched out the basics. He was patient, and never complained when I took my time, sometimes correcting a mistake or two.
When I got the main points down that I wanted, I allowed him a break. He went to the bathroom and then he sat back down on the couch and took a gulp from his glass, and I refilled it for him.
“You're not trying to get me drunk, are you? Cause I can assure you I'm a sure thing.”