The young man in this painting resides in an area of West Virginia where a livable wage is hard to obtain. In addition he carries personal baggage that hobbles. He came however, to my attention by an act of kindness and the sharing of his small reserve with another. I was mindful of Andrew Wyeth's "The Drifter" in painting his portrait and wished to show him with his daily burden and a spirit that might die with another barb. He wears his stained "fast food" shirt that is a blue slightly "off" with his coat. It's winter; and the portrait is mildly disturbing but increasingly familiar too.
7 Comments
Jerry Lee Cline 28 Jun 2010
Great work...Great gallery....You can look at my gallery if you so wish...Oh and I know all about West Virginia, I was born here....Hope you look at my gallery....Jerry Leehelen tyralik 19 Nov 2007
wonderfully portrayedKaren Cash 19 Nov 2007
a great painting. sadly, it speaks for so many Americans today.Carl Bell 18 Nov 2007
ugh- close to home... amazing work thoughEmily Reed 18 Nov 2007
SUPER PORTRAIT!Joanna Jungjohann 18 Nov 2007
thomas there it is, all in his eyes, you must have been deeply inspired, very very good, and so sensitiveLawrence Hickman 18 Nov 2007
great piece of work fantastically done awsome job