With two more faces completed, I'm approaching my goal of producing ten mini-portraits for my "Denizens" series. Number Seven is based on a memory drawing of a pale-eyed young man I spotted on the bus. His features were quite sharp but he had a sweet open awareness of things going on around him.
He was with a staid looking buddy, both of them carrying packs and hardhats -- but poking out of his, I detected what looked like a recorder -- so I've called the painting "Denizens Series - Musician." (copyright 2019)
An equally fascinating sighting was a young woman on the coffee shop terrace at VanDusen Gardens. Here's a sketchy glimpse of her:
Soon afterward, on a morning when I had leftover paint on my palette, I tried to capture her strong features -- and hair!!! -- in one of my funky cardboard sketches.
Meanwhile, the mystery remained. Who was she?? She seemed to be a visitor, solicitously
hosted by a woman and man of about her own age who seemed to be almost fawning
over her. Was she their boss from
Toronto head office? A potential investor
in their new start-up? I’ll never
know. So with acknowledgment of facial
features that appeared somewhat masculine, I’ve given her the gender
non-specific title, “Denizens Series - Actor.” (copyright 2019)
Recently, I've been reading some stories by the noted 19th-century French writer Guy deMaupassant. I've been struck by the way his characters immediately come to life, immediately evoke the reader's attention and concern. And I've recalled something he wrote that I've had posted on my bulletin board for many years:--
It is the lives we encounter that make life worth living.
-- and it is the hint of lives encountered that makes the human figure and face so compelling to me.
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