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Ernest E. Brayford 48" x 48" Oil Painting on Board - $4,250 (Redlands)
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Artist is still living in Hemet, Ca and is 81 years old
Ernest E. Brayford has long admired the masters of painting and music and has been able to incorporate both of these loves into his life.
But due to some health issues, Brayford, who has been a professional artist since he was 13, is slowing down and wants to downsize his collection.
He’ll do just that when he puts 600 pieces of his work on display at a one-man show, which includes a karaoke session, Oct. 9 in Ontario.
“I’ll still take commissioned jobs, but I only produce about one painting a week these days,” said the two-time cancer survivor.
Brayford said a commissioned painting he did for friend and musician Frank Zappa in 1962 when he was living in the Ontario area remains a vivid memory for him. In fact, he is dedicating his upcoming art show to Zappa, as well as his wife, Jennifer, and his mother, Josephine Bacadutre, who encouraged Ernest to “paint, paint, paint.”
Mostly self-taught, a young Brayford participated in his first art show in Ontario shortly after moving to California from Illinois.
He has painted portraits of all 44 United States presidents, a self-portrait and one of Zappa. But his favorite painting is “The Leaf” that seems to almost glow through the use of a fluorescent type of paint.
“That’s what I like most – the simplicity,” he said.
After moving to Hemet in 1997, Brayford rented space to display about 100 of his paintings and have a place where people could sit around and talk art.
It took him 4 1/2 years to complete the 600 paintings and original cartoon character creations that will be included in his solo show. He had originally planned to do 1,000 before some health setbacks.
“I can’t play golf anymore, I can’t drive or go fishing, but I will never stop painting,” Brayford said. “My art is something I will always fall back on.”
Keep in mind, this would not fit in Toyota Camry because of its size (4 Feet x 4 Feet). You will need a hatchback or a truck to pick it up.