My Portrait of Jeri Ryan

In honor of "Star Trek Into Darkness" opening this past weekend, I thought I'd post a portrait that I created back in 1998 that is one of my personal favorites.

I had rendered a group portrait of the nine-member cast of "Star Trek: Voyager" in 1997. Lithograph reproductions signed by the actors were featured at Star Trek conventions and at the "Star Trek: The Experience" at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas. The prints were also featured in Viacom retail stores for the brief time they were open in malls across the country.

Actress Jeri Ryan joined the cast in 1998, and her character, "Seven of Nine" became a sensation. I was thrilled when she agreed to pose for a companion portrait to be sold separately. Like the original cast portrait, I created this image using charcoal - a medium I really enjoy working in, and miss...I am rarely asked to work in this classic style today.

Jeri was a real pleasure to work with. She is obviously a beautiful subject, and she couldn't have been sweeter. When the lithographs were printed and ready for shipping, she graciously autographed each and every one. I wanted to express my appreciation for the terrific collaboration, so I gifted Jeri with a drawing of her little boy, Alex (below).