“This one patient I painted was an old cowboy,” he says, adding that he uses multiple photos of patients to paint their portrait. Dr. Molina brought the finished piece to his office, eager to show the man his portrait during his next visit. However, the patient believed there was little, if any, resemblance. Somewhat disappointed, Dr. Molina hung the painting in his office anyway.
A few years later, the man’s daughter called Dr. Molina, asking if she could snap a photo of the portrait to show her father, who was on his deathbed and requested to see it. “I was honored that he remembered, and [I] said the painting belongs to your family, but she never showed up,” says Dr. Molina. The painting still hangs in his office today.
Over the past decade, Dr. Molina has enrolled in two portrait-painting classes taught by famous American artists, Daniel Greene and Ramon Kelley. He spent some time painting with pastels and acrylics in Mr. Kelley’s studio in Denver. Mr. Kelley critiqued his art, believing he was more skilled at working with pastels than acrylics. “I shy away from pastels,” says Dr. Molina. “They’re so messy with all the powder. I just don’t like cleaning up afterward.”
Dr. Molina in his office, surrounded by his paintings.
On occasion, he has sold his paintings, but with regrets. He says he could never earn a living as a painter, because it’s too hard to part with his art, except when it’s being sold for charity. However, he hosts parties in his home for Mr. Kelley and other artists so they can sell their paintings and network with Dr. Molina’s friends, who are art collectors.
