“We are all in between life and death. So take full advantage of every day, seize the moment, and focus on aspirations."

Leonard and I met at a Lead Now Pittsburgh retreat. One session was about rest, and I shared that I had recently started meditating. Leonard described his own unsuccessful attempts at meditation and asked me to teach him. I explained that I was not a teacher but he insisted. So we sat together. Within minutes, he said it was the first time he had experienced a release from pain. That was powerful for both of us.

Weeks later I asked if I could paint his portrait. Leonard agreed, and took me to his favorite spot in Frick Park. I chose this view because it accentuates his physicality, vulnerability, connection to his surroundings, and because it places the viewer directly in his gaze. While painting it, I remember sensing that I shouldn’t finish painting his wedding ring. So I left the underpainting and light from the canvas to shine through.

Six years later while interviewing Leonard for this exhibit, I told him about the ring. He was stunned. He told me a moving story about how his father had recently passed down a beautiful blue onyx ring (the color of his shirt in the painting) and said he has been wearing it as his wedding ring ever since.

Jeffrey Dorsey

When I look at this painting, I see transition. I see transformation. On the left you see this tree that is flourishing. It’s connected to the roots, and there’s a lot to be expected. There’s a lot to look forward to on the left side.

Then on the right side it’s still connected to the roots but you see devastation, and that devastation could possibly lead to death. All of us are in between life and death. We don’t know where we are within that, but we’re all in between life and death.

So it teaches me to take full advantage of every day, to seize the moment and to really stay focused on my aspirations and work to fulfill whatever those aspirations are so that I could truly leave a legacy and, and really make an impact in the world.

When you look at this painting, I was at a time financially where I was surviving, but I wasn’t thriving. Since then I’ve taken on a role—I became an executive leadership communities director, oversee 600 people in 28 different states. I had an opportunity to become a chief of staff during this time for State Representative Jake Wheatley in the 19th Legislative District. So financially I went to a place where I was feasting. I went to a place where I had greater mental clarity. I was in a place where I learned about self-care and mutual care so I could take care of myself as well as taking care of the ones around me in which I love.

And that pose is beautiful. What this pose tells me is at that time—the way that I’m sitting with my palms up—I was open. I was receptive, and it shows that I was still. There’s a scripture that says, “Be still and know that I am God.” And I was doing just that. But I was also open to learning the practice of meditation. Open to receive all the great things that came my way. That’s what I see when I look at that pose. Present. Focused. Looking into the future with great expectation, understanding that it’s unknown, but whatever it was to come, I was ready for it.

A lot of times, I dealt with anxiety. Whoever has been poor before, you don’t wanna return to that state. So as you elevate through life, there’s a constant anxiety because it’s like, “Okay, let me be careful what I say. Let me be careful what I’m doing.” So you have to understand that there’s always going to be something on your mind. But there’s also times where you have to clear your mind and focus so that you could be successful for the people that love you, and also for the people that are following you.

My name is Leonard Hammonds II. I feel honored and blessed by you looking at my portrait.