6x6 Oil on Ampersand Gessobord
Celeste Bergin asked me if I felt sorry for the people I am painting. I've given this a lot of thought and it isn't an easy question to answer, especially with a simple yes or no. I don't know any of these people and I make an effort not to know for what crime they have been accused and their names. Some of the mug shots were taken at time of arrest and some after they have been convicted. So, for me this is an exercise in learning. However, having said that there are times when I feel a sadness, sometimes a profound sadness, sometimes less, but always complex. It's a feeling not only for the person, but for all the people this person has touched. When a crime has been committed from the less serious to the most horrible there are consequences that ripple far beyond this one person. For me, this is a complex issue and not an easy task to compress my thoughts into a few sentences. So, I would say that feeling sorry doesn't enter the picture as much as sadness. Thanks, Celeste! it's a thought provoking question.
