By Jim Knippenberg
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Artist Peter Max has high hopes for his Cincinnati visit this weekend - to pick up as many as a dozen portraits, commissioned by locals to the tune of $10,000 to $30,000.

All because he fell in love with a cow with pretty eyes.

IF YOU GO

Who: Artist Peter Max What: Showing and selling 100 works in his Pop to Patriotism show, and accepting commissions for portraits ($10,000-$30,000 ). Where: Malton Gallery, 2703 Observatory Ave., Hyde Park. When: Mr. Max will meet the public 6-9 p.m. today and Saturday, 1-3 p.m. Sunday. He'll accept commissions at a private reception 5-6 p.m. today at the gallery. Patrons who can't make it may commission a work through Gene Luntz at (212) 874-6700. Mr. Max will present his paintings of the cow Cindy Woo and the city's Tyler Davidson fountain to Cincinnati Councilman Jim Tarbell noon Saturday at the gallery. Information: 321-8614.

The colorfully cosmic Mr. Max, one of the nation's most popular artists and what he calls a "deep to the core animal lover," came to the rescue of Cinci Freedom in April. She's the cow who made national headlines when she jumped a 6-foot fence on her way to the slaughter house, then eluded capture for 10 days.

Mr. Max entered the picture when he heard about it from a friend - "I spent 55 hours on the phone over six days arranging her rescue" he says - and promised that if he could move Freedom to Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, N.Y., he'd come back here and help the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) raise money, a minimum of $180,000 to be made painting Cincinnati faces.

He makes good on that promise today through Sunday with a visit that includes numerous public appearances at Malton Gallery, where his show Pop to Patriotism hangs through Monday.

"They're saying I'll get six commissions, but really, I think probably a dozen or more people will jump in. And that's fine with me. The more I paint, the more money goes to the cause. If I can get $250,000 instead of $180,000 for them, I'll go for it."

If he doesn't get the $180,000 commitment over the weekend, he'll continue accepting commissions through his New York office until the goal is met.

Mr. Max's going rate for a portrait commission back in New York also runs $10,000 to $30,000, depending on size. Cincinnati portraits will range from the small one at 12 by 16 inches, to the largest at 24 by 30 inches.

He'll do the portraits from a handful of photos submitted by the subject.

Persons commissioning portraits will be in good company: Mr. Max has done the last five presidents, Mick Jagger, Steven Tyler (Aerosmith), Michael Douglas and dozens more. His work hangs in more than 100 museums.

"It takes me about six hours to finish a portrait," he says. "But I work in spurts, so it seems longer. I love spurts. Paint awhile, rekindle, paint some more. Since I do these entirely by myself (no assistants), that rekindle time is important.

"But I do welcome input from the subject. I want them to work with me on it."

And if the subject hates the finished product? "I've never had it happen. I hope it never does."

While he's in town, Mr. Max will give the city two paintings, one of the Tyler-Davidson fountain, the other of bovine runaway Cinci Freedom.

Except that's not her name anymore. Mr. Max renamed her Cindy Woo in honor of his late kitten. "We had five cats at home. The fifth one was named Cindy and she had the most beautiful eyes. She also had a heart problem we didn't know about and died young. After she died, my wife Mary was crying her eyes out and right in the middle sobbed out `Cindy Woo.'

"A month and a half later I found out about your cow and went to work getting her for the Sanctuary. We started calling her Cindy Woo in memory of the cat."

Right. So is Cindy Woo happy in her home on 200 acres full of other animals rescued from slaughterhouses? "She looks wonderful. She's gained about 200 pounds; she still has beautiful eyes."

E-mail jknippenberg@enquirer.com