A Portrait Portfolio - KWQC-TV6 News and Weather For The Quad Cities -

Tom Vaccaro calls it an artist to artist connection. His talent has paved the way for Vaccaro to meet some very famous personalities.

The Davenport man is a very gifted portrait artist. Using a charcoal pencil, Tom has done portraits of Paul McCartney of the Beatles. The Beach Boys, Milton Berle, Bill Cosby, Barry Manilow and Olivia Newton John are also among the portraits you will find in Tom's portfolio.

Each celebrity has received a personal portrait. It's an original from Tom. He has hand delivered them to the stars. He says it is a special moment to meet them in person and have his work acknowledged by so many well known personalities. He calls it a connection, a moment where they know him and he knows them. 

Tom has several signed prints in his collection. Vaccaro presented Paul McCartney with a portrait in Las Vegas.

Vaccaro works from photos. He is especially particular about detail, especially in the eyes.  He says there is a memory connected with every portrait he does. It takes him about eight hours to complete one.

The first portrait Tom drew was of Robert Kennedy. That was when Tom was a teenager. Over the decades, his talent and creativity continue to shine. One portrait at a time!