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Adam was the honorary starter at the Indy 500 this last Sunday; he showed up looking extremely relaxed and happy, wearing what looks like nearly a month’s worth of scruff, his sunglasses, a casually unbuttoned and untucked deep navy shirt that we’ve seen at least 3 times before, black skinny jeans, and his ancient and much scuffed redwing boots, and we were all transported with delight at the characteristic intensity with which he swung that flag.
He had the opportunity to speak to various press agents, but chose instead to use the time he had to sign autographs and take photos with fans, which I thought was a real class act. As near as I can tell, the only interview he gave was for the official Indy 500 folks who were introducing everyone, and the gentleman talking to him winkled a fun fact out of Adam; he'd never been to this race before, despite being a Hoosier until he left for Julliard. When asked if he'd gotten any advice in regards to starting the race, Adam mentioned that he'd been told to wave the flag in figure eights, and I'd guess, based on the way the official starter waved his green flag (as well as film of another celebrity starter at a different race), that the person give that advice meant he should use his forearm to describe them, leading from the elbow, like you would if you were painting a wall.
But our relentless hillock, as a friend of mine said, "really put his whole punani into it" and used his entire right arm from the shoulder, twisting his upper body with every swing, hacking at the air like he was Kylo Ren destroying that console again, holding onto the railing for dear life with his left hand as he leaned out and down to saw away enthusiastically until every car in the race had passed under the tower, at which point he raised his arms in triumph and turned to celebrate the moment with the crowd, flag held up in his fist to proudly stream in the breeze.
I have to think that it was an unforgettably thrilling moment, to be standing on that tower as those cars went thundering by, waving that flag. There were so many great photos of him from that day, even some in 4k+ quality, but I chose to paint this one, despite it being blurrier, because this was the essence of why he was there, and the sheer delight and awe on his face was a joy to paint. Even with his eyes hidden behind his sunglasses, we know he's gazing intently at the racers as they accelerate toward that starting line, and I wish I knew what he was yelling that's got his tongue pulled up and back like that, but my lip reading skills were only good enough to pick up one really clear, "WOW."
That other celebrity gave the flag back as soon as they were done waving it. I'm absolutely certain Adam took his flag home.
Photo used for reference was taken by AJ Mast at the 107th running of the Indy 500 on 28 May 2023.
About 7.5 hrs, which was a relief after the last one; the blessings of a dynamic, blurry reference.
He had the opportunity to speak to various press agents, but chose instead to use the time he had to sign autographs and take photos with fans, which I thought was a real class act. As near as I can tell, the only interview he gave was for the official Indy 500 folks who were introducing everyone, and the gentleman talking to him winkled a fun fact out of Adam; he'd never been to this race before, despite being a Hoosier until he left for Julliard. When asked if he'd gotten any advice in regards to starting the race, Adam mentioned that he'd been told to wave the flag in figure eights, and I'd guess, based on the way the official starter waved his green flag (as well as film of another celebrity starter at a different race), that the person give that advice meant he should use his forearm to describe them, leading from the elbow, like you would if you were painting a wall.
But our relentless hillock, as a friend of mine said, "really put his whole punani into it" and used his entire right arm from the shoulder, twisting his upper body with every swing, hacking at the air like he was Kylo Ren destroying that console again, holding onto the railing for dear life with his left hand as he leaned out and down to saw away enthusiastically until every car in the race had passed under the tower, at which point he raised his arms in triumph and turned to celebrate the moment with the crowd, flag held up in his fist to proudly stream in the breeze.
I have to think that it was an unforgettably thrilling moment, to be standing on that tower as those cars went thundering by, waving that flag. There were so many great photos of him from that day, even some in 4k+ quality, but I chose to paint this one, despite it being blurrier, because this was the essence of why he was there, and the sheer delight and awe on his face was a joy to paint. Even with his eyes hidden behind his sunglasses, we know he's gazing intently at the racers as they accelerate toward that starting line, and I wish I knew what he was yelling that's got his tongue pulled up and back like that, but my lip reading skills were only good enough to pick up one really clear, "WOW."
That other celebrity gave the flag back as soon as they were done waving it. I'm absolutely certain Adam took his flag home.
Photo used for reference was taken by AJ Mast at the 107th running of the Indy 500 on 28 May 2023.
About 7.5 hrs, which was a relief after the last one; the blessings of a dynamic, blurry reference.
