A Picture That's Worth A Thousand Socks
They are portraits of patients. Many of them are homeless. Like Otis, who has a simple dream.
"So he's sitting in front of the apples wondering what it would be like to eat the apples," says Mary Larson, who painted the portraits.
Otis can't eat apples, because he's got bad teeth.
Then there's Jerry, who has one joy of life.
"Jerry loved to ride the bus to the end of the line to his favorite waffle shop once a week. And you could get him to talk about bus rides he would just beam," says Larson, who's a nurse at the Pioneer Square Clinic.
Larson has treated every single person up on the walls.
Like David Terry standing in his usual spot, right under his portrait.
"I want to take it home," says Terry with a laugh.
David Terry is 53-years-old. He's had to live on the streets.
Harry Bell has never had to. Harry used to be in show business -- a tap dancer.
"I think on each person she captures the person's personality which is, I guess, what art is all about," says Bell.
Mary Larson hesitated at first to approach her patients about this idea she had. But now she's glad she did, and believes the portraits make the subjects feel special.
"I feel like somebody cares for me you know," says Jose Ramirez.
Terry agrees.
"Everybody wants a portrait from her," says Terry.
Some of Mary Larson's portraits are for sale at the Starbucks at the University Village.
"Parting with them just tears at my heart," says Larson. But you can't buy them with cash. You can buy them with donations.
The "Tommy" portrait is yours for 400 new stocking caps.
The "Clarence" portrait is yours for 650 pairs of new, large, white socks.
Nurse Larson doesn't want to make money. She wants to keep her patients warm. Patients who can't thank her enough.
And can't wait for her first sale.