Well, it's official...American Idol is now consuming my Tuesday and Wednesday nights! I admit that I enjoy the live part of the show...I really could do without all those crazy auditions. This season of the show is extra special because Ellen DeGeneres is the new judge, sitting alongside Simon and Randy. Yippeee!! Ellen is one of my favorite people, I have been a fan of hers since her stand-up days and have been watching her primetime sitcom for years, as well as her daytime talkshow, especially because I am usually painting in the Studio when it's on. She is SOOO funny and cracks me up.Back in 1996 I got the opportunity to meet my idol and present her with a painting!! I was doing a show in Los Angeles, California and my portrait of Ellen was an important piece in the show as Ellen had just been featured on the cover of Time Magazine!! Through some friendly contacts out in LA, I was invited to a taping of her sitcom, "Ellen." I didn't know at the time that I would meet her, but I was planning on bringing the painting to her as a gift. So I arrived at the Burbank television studio and was ushered into the front row of the audience, as my painting was taken backstage (or so I was told.) After the couple hours it took to tape, one of the studio personnel came to me and said Ellen is going to come out and do a "question-and-answer" with the audience. They thought it would be a great time for me to stand up and introduce myself and give her the painting since the cameras were on and "Entertainment Tonight" was there too! I have never been more nervous in my life!! I really had no idea and was caught off guard. The nice studio guy saw the terror on my face and said he'd do the introduction for me and then I could take it from there. Deal!
Ellen came out and was her usual funny and gracious self. She took a few questions from the audience and then it was all about me! They brought out the painting and Ellen absolutely loved it!! She gushed over it and talked a little about me and told everyone about starting an art career at a young age and painting for Hillary Clinton and Barbra Streisand. Ellen knew my whole story, so i didn't have to jumble up my words so much. She then turned the painting around (it was a four by four foot square canvas) so the audience of 200 Ellen fans could see and everyone started appauding! For me I was more focused on looking at Ellen standing next to my portrait of her and the smile on her face was the same smile I painted on the canvas! Awesome! I knew I did a great job.
So after everyone left, Ellen asked if I would hang out for a bit. Of course I did!! We chatted for awhile, took some photographs, and I told her this was a gift but I would like to have her sign a painting for me in my personal collection as she was a hero of mine. Logistically it was easier for her to sign the very painting I brought and paint another one for her art collection. She did say however that she loved the blue color of the background and to make sure the next piece was the same. She signed my piece with, " Allison, Continue to dream big. You are AMAZING!"
Needless to say, I was floating after that night!!
I came home, and painted her portrait, sent it to her and have subsequently painted a few portraits for her over the years and have enjoyed meeting with her on several other occasions!
