James Fee Richmond

Rough Seas Make a Good Sailor

I had grown weary of painting the sea. Even stormy waters lose their power when repeated. But as the old saying goes: a rough sea makes a good sailor. I needed something new. Something raw.

Enter Adam Jarboe — half-submerged in a hot tub like Poseidon on spring break, steam rolling over the surface like Kentucky bourbon vapor. The way the sunlight hit his shoulders, how his eyes caught the lens — it wasn’t just seductive. It was depraved. Just like James Fee, who was behind the camera egging it on.

When I asked Adam to model for a portrait, he didn’t flinch. He laughed and leaned in. That’s what I needed — someone just as rural, just as stripped of pretense as I was. Someone who understood that art and absurdity often share a hot tub.

The painting’s not done yet — but it’s coming. I’ve got the photo. I’ve got the look. All that’s left is the oil and the patience to see it through. Check back soon for the finished piece.