Yesterday for Art in the City, I was offering free portraits in order to promote the 2 art classes I teach there. My station was in the lobby which greatly helped attract some traffic my way. It took 15 minutes for me to get a subject but then I was booked the whole way through. It is so fun to interact with a model who is sitting and getting their portrait done. A truly intimate rapport is established, one that you don’t find anywhere else. It is in fact something of a therapy. My friend Grace Fournier was my muse and mentor since she gave me the idea to do this months ago when she was offering 5 minute portraits for her art opening. She was completely relaxed, drawing from instinct and smudging them at the end to blen in an expressive way. She let me take over that night and I was channeling what I had learned there yesterday.

They all left very happy with their portraits which made me feel very valued. I can’t say enough how important it is for artists to get encouragements. To use art to communicate and bond with others is such a privilege and it made me so

The portrait I wish I could improve is the little girl’s. I think I got stumped by the close-up cropping and made the top of her forehead too wide. That being said, she was absolutely thrilled when I gave it to her which is all that matters at the end of the day. At one point I noticed myself looking at her very intensely as I was focused and I told her: I must look so creepy right now. She thought it was hilarious so I started clowning around and she laughed even more. The woman with the blue hat was also a blast. Her face was very different and interesting to draw and we had so much fun together. You see, I drew her as a reformed super villain who could turn invisible. I also put myself in the story with the power of absolutely convincing lies and subterfuge. Quite frankly I am still wondering how my super villain was reformed with those powers! She was so sincere and her appreciation of my work moved me all the more.

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