DATE COMPLETED: APRIL 27, 2016

TOTAL HOURS WORKED: 11

Long time restaurant colleague Brian Miceli dropped some hints that he might like to have some “Gill Alexander originals” on his wall.  We had worked together at Miami Beach’s Pacific Time Restaurant for 8 years and Brian worked there for almost 14.  I am not entirely certain but I think this may have made Brian the restaurant’s longest serving employee! All these facts made Chef/Owner Jonathan Eismann an obvious subject for Brian’s half facetious request.  The drawing was to be Brian’s birthday present and the fact that he and Jonathan shared the same birthday made this seem all the more appropriate.

 

There are dozens of publicity photos I might have chosen to work with, but I instead chose one of the few candid shots that I had taken of Jonathan with Pacific Time clientele on a Halloween in the late 1990’s.  It was not the best photo; but I liked the fact that it conveyed some of the revved up intensity that Jonathan so often displayed.  There are a number of little details that appealed: the asymmetrical features, the tilted head, the crooked smile (dare I say - a smirk) and especially the Mr. Spock single raised eyebrow. Yes, I think it does look like Jonathan. Plus it captures some of his posture. On that level it was a success. But I wished that I had better lighting on that white, white uniform.