an interesting story about the Jesus 2.0 illustration :
I've illustrated Elvis for countless dozens of celebrities (and everyday people) since I was 12 years old.
I painted a gigantic exterior mural on the side of a nightclub called Red Square in Memphis Tennessee in the 90's, featuring an imaginary hypothetical movie poster.
It was for a movie called RED SQUARE, featuring Elvis Presley starring as 'Johnny Neptune'.
It just so happens that Lisa Marie Presley's limousine was kept Park in a secured area right next to the mural.
She saw the mural and inquired who had painted it.
By this time, I had married the Swedish girl (as in: a blonde bombshell who was actually from Sweden) and we had moved to Neptune Beach Florida, just a stone's throw North from Jacksonville Beach… One day I got a phone call from my friend Todd Morgan, who was the creative director of Graceland (Elvis Presley Enterprises)
Todd said he wanted to fly me back to Memphis and sit down to discuss meat becoming the art director of Graceland. I went to the meeting and met with the marketing and Licensing directors, Danny and Carol, and after listening to their pitch, I turned down the job offer.
I told them "I have been working for Elvis as since I was 12 years old, and I'm not about to start wearing a tie and clocking in at 9 to approve or disapprove ashtrays and coffee mugs."
Todd laughed, and told me that's exactly what he expected me to say.
Anyway, the image of Elvis crucified on a cross made of a guitar and a syringe raised the eyebrows of Gary Hovey, lawyer for Elvis Presley Enterprises and Lisa Marie's personal attorney.
One day I got a certified letter in the mail, a legal sized manila envelope….
When I opened the letter, it was an official cease-and-desist notice from Gary Hovey. He had instructed me that I was never allowed to paint another picture of Elvis' likeness…
I had the cease and desist notice framed, and I can honestly say I have never been more proud of anything in my life.
100% TRUE……..