If you look very carefully at a person’s face for many hours you will never be able to look at that face again in the same way.

This exhibit of portraits was meant as a celebration to preserve the legacy of prodigious artists who have never given up on their art. They all, in their own ways, are a part of my larger community and have inspired me to keep strong, believe in myself and never to give up on my art. Each of these people either through sheer stamina, stubbornness, a bit of luck or simply because they had no choice, are artists. Their calling was and is to be creative and always look for the extraordinary. Additionally portrait oil painting on canvas is strangely old fashioned in a new way. I like the idea that I have somehow immortalized these amazing people, as these portraits will more than likely outlive their subjects. There are many photographic prints and digital files, maybe more beautiful or telling of my subjects, but there is a reason why 13th century oil paintings on canvas still exist today. I guess for sheer archival purposes stone would have been better but I have chosen and I’m driven to be a painter.