First, can you tell us how you got started as an artist?
I’ve been an artist my whole life. I was the youngest of eight kids. When I wasn’t playing sports on the street or in the yard – or the vacant lot near us – if it was a rainy day or early evening, I’d be inside drawing with paper and pencil.
I think my siblings had me draw pictures for them to stop bugging them! My dad was a doodler too and would draw with me.
At Edinboro College I graduated with a concentration in art. I wanted to teach art but was worried about being able to get a job. My wife – then girlfriend – she told me I should start off by becoming an elementary school teacher and I did that for 19 years.
After that there was an opening for an art educator and I ended up fulfilling my missing requirements and finished the last nine years of my career as an art teacher.
So. now what?
I just retired. I’m fighting cancer now myself – I just couldn’t manage the physical and neurological grind. The disease just affects me in that manner.
How did the artwork take that next step?
15 years ago my wife fell and broke her ribs – I ended up taking time off to help take care of our youngest kid then. When she rested I drew and that Christmas i decided to start trying to sell my work. That’s when social media was just taking off. At that same time KDKA was having their Steelers Trivia Challenge show and to get on it you had to convince them why you should be chosen. I told them about my artwork and they asked that if I came on the show, if I could being some artwork with me.
I said “Hell yeah!” That’s when I became friends with Bob Pompeani. I did a sketch for him after the show and he later asked if I wanted to be not he Hines Ward Show. I said “Yeah – sign me up!” I met Ike Taylor, James Farrior and others then. Before I knew it I was doing art for Farrior’s charity – and later worked with Alan Faneca, Brett Keisel, and Heath Miller on their charities.
I was blessed to be able to help work with those charities. I got most involved later with Jerome Bettis and his foundation. But now that I’m older, and with this disease, I really have to pick and choose what I can do. I want to go at it harder, I just can’t.
Now you have your own foundation?
I decided in 2020 to start my own 501(c)(3). The Larry Klu Foundation. I always wanted to give back – especially now that my life has changed so much with cancer. The foundation mostly helps cancer warriors but I do other things as well – like scholarships for kids. But I can only do so much especially without the donations and money needed to help others.
What works or experiences stand out most to you so far?
I was able to gift Dan Rooney a hand-painted football which was special. It’s still on permanent display there in the Great Hall. I got to speak to Dan for 20 minutes – he had no idea who I was but he would have kept talking if his secretary didn’t keep him on schedule. It just shows the kindness he had – all those stories about him were true.
And to be around those guys in their own element – away from the field. To see what kind of human beings they are had been a privilege for me to view them in that manner.
One good example is – last October I was with Jerome at the Treesdale Golf Course doing a live painting. This was for Mary Maloney – a paralyzed girl who is trying to work towards walking again. I asked Jerome if he would sign it and he just said “Of course! I’ll do whatever I can to help!” He was just so kind and gracious.
I also work with Rocky some as well. I wrote a children’s book about the story of his life. I wanted his story to live on. I met Rocky several years ago and we hit it off – my dad was a retired naval officer so we had a lot in common. I told him I wanted to do the book and he said “Let’s do it!”
They’ve all been so genuine and helpful. It’s been so cool to get a glimpse of this side of them.
What has surprised you most throughout this experience so far?
I think it’s just being able to see how good these guys are first-hand. I was just on KDKA – they wanted to have me on Pittsburgh Today Live. They asked me what I had going on and I told them I had reached out to the Heyward House and spoke to Cam Hayward’s mother about doing a painting for charity – one with Cam and Joe Greene on it, calling it “Generational Talents”. I asked if Cam could come on – we were trying to paint and sell a sizable painting for cancer. The long and short of it is he agreed to come on. But I couldn’t be vaccinated for Covid due to my cancer. My immune system is overactive and it messes with that. It wasn’t anyone’s fault – but they couldn’t have me in their studio, being unvaccinated. They asked me though if I could do the painting outside and I said “Yeah! If it means being on the show, sure.”
So, they set up an outside area for me to paint in the front circle. Cam came down and it was freezing out! I’m surprised my paint didn’t freeze. Well, he stayed outside and froze with me. I told him he could go inside but he stayed with me outside for over two hours.
Now, how is your health?
Well, I tell people don’t feel badly for me – I’m strong physically and mentally. There’s no cure to the disease but I consider myself blessed – I am cared for by the greatest doctors and nurses in the world.
I get immunotherapy treatment every 21 days in Wexford and chemo four times a year. The disease is called paraneoplastic syndrome – it is very rare, but even though there is no cure I’ve been fighting it and have a good outlook on life.
I tell myself it’s almost a blessing. It has helped me to find strength and faith I never knew existed. I try to be productive every day. Some days are down days for sure – some are better than others. Not all are 10s. But I try not to put up any zeroes either!