- I'm here with Nico Santos.
Give it up.
(background crowd applauds)
For the past year essential workers have been our lifesavers
both literally and figuratively,
they've kept us fed, delivered our packages,
given us medical care.
My next guest has been honoring these heroes
by painting portraits of them at work.
So everybody say hello to John Decker.
(background crowd applauds)
Hi.
- Hi Kelly. (giggles)
This is exciting.
- Oh I know it's so exciting.
Meet Nico first of all.
- Hi.
- Hi, Nico.
- [Nico] Nice to meet you.
- Oh, it's great.
This is super.
Nice to meet you.
- Oh, I love you.
You're so sweet.
So John, what inspired you to switch over
and, you know, paint essential workers?
- Well, this is actually a spinoff
of something I did in 2017.
We had wildfires that came through California
and actually did a terrible job on Santa Rosa.
But I did portraits of the emergency crews
and the community leaders who guided us
through that terrible tragedy.
And I, you know, I have to show you,
this pen is like my go-to pen.
It's a Pilot Precise V5.
It's the pen that I use all the time when I'm sketching.
But when the pandemic hit,
I'm 73 years old, and I had to shelter in a place.
They put me in a vulnerable category.
And so I was at a loss for how to support
the essential workers who made it possible
for us to stay safe,
and to keep the world moving.
So, I started making a new round of portraits
and if someone came to my house and mowed the lawn,
or they delivered something,
I'd take their picture and then I'd paint it.
And then I'd see pictures
of nurses that were on social media.
They were sharing photos of themselves
wearing all of their protective gear.
And I felt like that was really important.
And so I started working on their portraits.
So far I've done probably more than 60 of those paintings.
- That's such a beautiful thing
that you're doing for people.
So well, essential workers,
especially those in the medical field,
stepped up for your family, you were saying,
that you've not only had family but also friends, right?
- Yeah, it's been, you know, we really would, you know
we owe everything to them.
People in my family also work in the medical field.
So they've just been affected by it this entire time.
And I don't know, my mom works at a retail
at a Big Box store.
So she's also gone through this entire rigmarole.
Our lives couldn't continue without these people.
So they really, I mean,
I commend you for what you're doing,
it's just a small memento to show her how much you care
and paint them.
- Yeah, it's such a beautiful thing.
And also because, not only everybody gets their portrait
done like that, you know what I'm saying?
Not like everybody, I mean, not where I'm from,
I'm from a very poor area.
So like nobody got that kind of thing done,
but sometimes it takes a while for a portrait
to get to one of John subjects.
So, John, can you tell us about the portrait
you did of a nurse named Hailey?
- Yes.
So, before the pandemic even started,
just before, I tripped and broke my hand,
I tripped, fell down and broke my painting hand,
bones in my painting hand.
So that's kind of how I started this whole project.
But I ended up in the emergency room
and while the nurse was putting my arm in a cast,
I told her,
"You know, I've been painting frontline workers
and these people that were involved with the wildfires."
And so I showed her some of the pictures on my phone
and I said, "You know, I'd love to paint a portrait of you,
to say thank you for helping me."
And she said, "Yes."
So I took her photo with my phone.
And then once my hand was healed, I painted her.
But I never got a chance to show her,
because I've been kind of scared to go to the hospital
with everything being on lockdown because of COVID.
But she really inspired me to do more nurse pictures
during the pandemic.
She was the first.
But, you know nurses are all just so amazing.
They don't get nearly the recognition that they deserve.
(background crowd applauds)
- Absolutely.
I agree.
Well, I'm happy to say that we actually have this nurse
in our virtual waiting room.
So everybody say hi to Hailey.
(background crowd applauds)
What's up?
(background crowd applauds)
- My hand is good. (laughs)
- There you go. (laughs)
- So Hailey, you inspired John to keep painting portraits
like these during the pandemic.
So how does it make you feel?
- You know, I'm truly flattered and humbled by it.
As John said, I met him a long time ago
during our wildfire season.
And that's how he kind of got started.
So it's no surprise to me that he's continued on
through the pandemic.
You know, I love what I do,
and I'm honored and privileged to be able to
take care of people.
You have John here who shows appreciation
and recognizes what you're doing,
and that's really what makes it all worth it.
You know, John is why we show up.
- Yeah, we really all do owe y'all everything.
So, thank you so much.
And Hailey, I have to say,
John has finished your painting.
So are you ready to see it?
- I heard.
(all laugh)
Oh my gosh.
- [Kelly] Oh my gosh.
(background crowd applauds)
Oh my gosh.
That's amazing.
- [Hailey] Thank you.
- Oh my gosh, that's actually amazing.
Wow, I wish I could paint.
Oh my God.
Well, hey John, before we go,
we told Pilot Pen, the go-to pen at the Kelly Clarkson Show,
like that Pilot was your go-to pen as well,
Pilot Pen knows how powerful putting pen to paper can be,
as demonstrated by your incredible sketches.
So, they're sending you a giant Pilot gift basket
with your favorite Precise Pens,
as a thank you for your generosity and commitment
to essential workers, all right?
(background crowd applauds)
- Oh, thank you so much. (laughs)
- [Kelly] Absolutely.
- That's amazing.
- You should be good for a while with these, so.
(all laugh)
And thank you so much, Hailey.
We really do appreciate everything you're doing
and you're continuing to do.
- Absolutely.
(background crowd applauds)
Thank you, thank you.