Person of the Week: Simmie Knox

June 18, 2004 -- Celebrated artist Simmie Knox earned his place in history this week as he became the first black artist to paint an official presidential portrait. His oil painting of former President Bill Clinton was unveiled Monday during a ceremony at the White House.

"I thank Simmie Knox for giving Hillary and me the chance to be a part of history," President Clinton said in his remarks during the ceremony. Knox also painted the portrait of former first lady Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

The honor wasn't lost on Knox.

"It's the big one, some have said it's the plum, there are a number of names that can describe it, but for me it was major, because I realize there has never been an African-American to paint a portrait of a president and being the first, that's quite an honor and quite a challenge," Knox said.

Knox, 68, does his work in a garage studio at his Silver Spring, Md., home. His love of jazz music helped him connect with Clinton during their sessions.

"He plays saxophone. See, there's a connection," Knox said. "You listen to that[music], it just gets to me, man. Really does."

Knox suspects word of mouth was instrumental in getting him the presidential commission.

A professional artist for 25 years, he has painted portraits of Hank Aaron, Muhammad Ali, Bill Cosby, the late Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, and more recently, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

"What you're trying to do when you make a portrait, I think, is tell a story," Knox said. "It tells you the things the person experienced. It tells you about the things that helped to shape this person."

Simmie, which is what he prefers to be called, worked on President Clinton's portrait for about a year.

The former president didn't have to sit for days on end. Instead, artist and subject met a couple of times, and Knox then worked from photographs and his own impressions.

"He was pleased," said Knox. "In fact, when he saw it he said, 'I like it, I like it, I like it,' a number of times."