David,
Every painting is a self portrait. You may have had a poor reference, but you have made a rich painting.

Allan

Beautiful and sensitively done. You've considered your subject with reverence and it shows.

Thanks Elizabeth. I'm so sorry to hear of your friend's tragic loss. It goes to show how interconnected we all are, and just how devastating it is for so many people, when a loved one is taken away by this mindless violence.

Elizabeth, I really do feel blessed. Those two weeks in December are two weeks I shall never forget. Standing in the middle of Independance Square in Kiev, New Years eve, shoulder to shoulder with half a million people in the freezing cold, listening to (now President) Yuschenko addressing the crowd, congratulating them on their victory, praising them for their courage and determination in standing up for their democratic rights.....at that moment there was no place on earth I'd rather be. At midnight, we all watched the most spectacular fireworks display, and at that moment - 30 seconds after midnight - it started to snow. Perfect.

Jimmie, thanks for your encouraging words. I think what saved this drawing was the man's face and his expression. Up until the day I took this picture (two days before I was to leave) I was hesitant to ask people for a photo - I didn't want to offend or be rude. But that day I found out that they enjoy having their picture taken. I think they feel honored somehow. And they loved it when I showed them the pic on my camera's little LCD. I can't wait to go back.

Linda, Pazhalooysta!! Or, I guess I should say: Budlaska!! (Ukrainian) Do you speak Russian?

Allan, that is so true, and sometimes, literally. When my students (high school) do portraits of each other, it's amazing how, in many instances, it looks more like themselves than their subject....but I guess in this case, I hope it's not true literally! :)

Marvin, thank you so much for your kind feedback. You know, I'm already dreaming and scheming of building a summer home/studio (dacha!) in the Carpathian mountains. I'll never run out of inspiration there. The great thing about what we do is we can do it anywhere!

David, this is so rich a portrait on several levels. I love the effect of that touch of orange. Poignant!

I quess being of partly Ukrainian heritage, this time in the Ukraine has special meaning for me.

I remember when I was very little my grandmother spitting on the television screen when various Russian leaders would appear.

This painting is an elegant and beautifully designed testimonial to the endurance of this talented people.

I don't know what I could say that hasn't already been expressed. But, this is a very intense portrait. The viewer does see him breath and feel and think. Your handling of the medium is so excellent. You really captured spirit, which, to me is the heart of portraiture!

Thanks so much Terri, Sharon, Patricia!

Sharon, That's so interesting. I myself have no family connection to Ukraine, but somehow I really have an affinity for the place and the people.... (my grandfather was a naval attache and got sent to live in Moscow - with his family - in the early 1950's!!...he saw Stalin). I just picture your grandmother spitting on the television screen. Ha!! What an image!! Priceless.

I hope you're right. I totally agree - for me, it's what doing portraits is all about.

David,

I have a very distinct memory of an old Russian man much like the one you show here. Years ago myself and other teenagers were riding a train from Moscow to Leningrad. Some in my group were playing guitars and bongo drums trying to pass the time. I still remember that I was reading the "The Lord of the Rings," and my friend was reading "The Exorcist." The train seemed very old and the black soot from it's stack would come blowing in through the open windows.

We were approached by an old man who asked if anyone knew the tune "Hello Dolly." This old toothless Russian man gave us "Hello Dolly" in his best Luis "Sachmo" Armstrong imitation. These sorts of images are difficult to shake.

Mike,

Was this the guy? I went out with the officials who had the "mobile" ballot box - taking it into people's homes - so voters who were old or infirm could vote. This toothless guy, as soon as he dropped his ballot in the box, launched into a rousing rendition of, what I assumed, was some old patriotic song....(or - I don't know, maybe it was Hello Dolly!) Thing is, he wouldn't stop. We politely said our goodbyes, left his house, walked through his gate, over to the next house... we could still hear him singing.

Your story is great! Sounds like you were there during Soviet times? - unless you're still in your twenties! Wow! you were a pioneer. I'd love to hear more of your adventures. I live for these memories - they are priceless.

Yes, that's him!

I am easily divisible by twenty.

It was the height of the cold war. Upon arrival we were detained and interrogated at the airport for three hours with threats that we were bringing contraband into the country. We were carrying LP records that they confiscated. What they really wanted were our jeans and our books. Because of this flap they canceled our outing to the Bolshoi ballet and other scheduled items. We were, however, able to see Swan Lake in Leningrad (I think Leningrad has had a name change again, back to Saint Petersburg).

One of the spookiest moments for me came while on a bus ride out of Leningrad to the Czar's palace on the gulf of Finland. I tried always to sit near the interpreter which was at the front of the bus near the driver. Through the interpreter I learned that this bus driver had lost his entire family (nine as I recall) during the German 900 day siege of Leningrad. I had never been near anyone that had experienced so much grief. It was a chilling moment for a mostly protected naive kid.