Andrea Grappa; charcoal and white chalk on 18 x 24” grey paper; June 9, 2025.

Grappa modeled last night on invite at Gage Academy’s “Portrait Club” for a dozen artists pursuing draftsmanship mastery on South Lake Union. I attend Portrait Club once a week four years this November. I’ve drawn and painted a hundred faces under studio light, but this one’s special connecting two passions — art and F3 — Fitness, Fellowship and Faith — 45 minute urban calisthenic bootcamps for men. Grappa and I workout in F3 nearly twice a week; sharing stories and Latin quotes. “I write poetry outside my biomedical career” Andrea said in Gage’s hall on break after sitting stoically in the model chair twenty minutes on, five minutes off for three hours. “I’m honored to participate in this artistic act of fellowship.” Grazie, Grappa, for taking the hot seat, supporting the art of portraiture through fellowship and faith. Here’s to the next one-hundred faces through consistency and focus — Gutta caveat lapidem — “A water drop hollows a stone” — Ovid.