Tak! Ukraine
 

My first portrait in color!! :)

OK, I guess I should explain. In December I had the great honor of serving as one of the many international election observers in Ukraine for the historic presidential election "revote" (the original election on Nov. 21 was, after massive street protests, declared invalid by Ukraine's Supreme Court because of fraud). When I arrived in Kiev the city was awash in orange - it was the height of the "Orange Revolution." Orange scarves, orange hats, coats...it seemed every car had something orange attached to it, ribbons, bumper stickers, etc. It is still amazing to me how a simple color (a secondary color no less!) can come to represent the aspirations of a whole people; that it can be invested with such meaning - political, moral, even spiritual.

After a few days of orientation in Kiev, I was sent west to the Carpathian mountain region to observe at 4 or 5 local precincts. The people there are incredible. Especially the older people. They have suffered so much in their lives, but they are survivors and it shows on their faces. They are also extremely kind, generous and hospitable. Many of the people in this region are of the Hutsul ethnic minority. They are basically a poor, but proud mountain people with their own distinct culture, traditions, dress, etc. And they have a wicked sense of humor. I came to love these people.

I took a quick photo of this man the day after the election at a local market. He has an incredible face but, unfortunately, it wasn't a great reference - shot at noon on an overcast day. I tried to make the most of it. The idea to add the orange scarf (which was orange) came about halfway through the drawing. I'm not sure what I'll do with this drawing - I guess it really only has resonance if you're Ukrainian. Otherwise it's probably like: Huh?

At any rate, when I get my new Nikon D-70, I can't wait to go back there and get tons of better reference material, with proper lighting.

Dear David,

What an amazing tale, and what a fabulous portrait! The design is marvelous, and I think the orange scarf is just perfect.

Your modeling is so very sensitive, and your character compelling.

PS Tak?

David,

I don't think that one has to be Ukrainian for this to have resonance. This old man's face is everywhere, just the features that change but the face is the same all over the world.

Outstanding work! Excellent drawing...you have handled a full front pose in a way that is captivating. Congratulations!

Carlos

Wow! This was masterfully done. I had to look closely to see if I wasn't looking at the reference photo that had been touched up with a little orange. The touch of orange and the story behind it adds a wonderful accent. What medium did you use...colored pencil, pen? Talk about raising the bar on drawing skills.

David,

Believe me, this portrait RESONATES! What a fabulous and sensitive drawing. The orange fits in especially well. You really have raised the bar.

Garth

Great job David. The orange is nicely done regardless. I hope you will be able to get a copy back to the subject.

Thank you, Chris, for your generous remarks. "Tak" in Ukrainian simply means "Yes." This was the slogan of the opposition's campaign.

Carlos, thank you very much. I've been thinking about what you said. While I was there, I asked myself why did all these faces seem different, and why was I so attracted to them? - that I wanted to draw or paint nearly everyone I saw, certainly the older people I saw. I haven't felt that nearly as much here in the US. Are they really any different than old people here in Southern California, or anywhere for that matter? I'm thinking that context has everything to do with it. It may be something as simple as a scarf on an elderly woman, or the kind of Russian fur hats that are worn there. And that kind of cultural reference is something that's easily translatable - and even becomes pronounced - in a drawing or painting.

Thanks Richard. The materials are the same as most of my other drawings - charcoal pencils with white chalk highlights on tinted paper. The orange was done with just an orange pastel pencil.

Thank you so much Garth. To be honest, I was thinking about not posting this one because, frankly, I was sick of looking at it. I started this one before my last post ('Abdu'l-Baha profile) and I was kind of working in a way I wanted to move beyond. It was all I could do to finish this one. Everything but the face was extremely tedious for me - especially the zipper! And it was taking SO long...and the reference wasn't great, etc. But I thought of something Mike McCarty wrote somewhere to someone - that having started a project, we owe it to ourselves to see it through, not to give up. Now I'm glad I didn't give up.

I suppose it's possible, six degrees of separation an' all (I didn't get his name or number). I'm now thinking of making some giclees of this to sell - to some of the Ukrainian folks here, or when I go back to Ukraine - though in western Ukraine I suppose the most I could get for them would be a few kopeks and a bit of goat cheese.

Well David I think you should be blessed in two ways;

1 - witnessing such an incredible event and helping them make it happen. (Our friend's oldest son was one of the 34 killed in Iraq on election day.)

2 - knowing it is this caliber of work that you can produce with reference you consider not the best!

Wow! Your work always has such heart, I enjoy it immensely!

David, once again, incredible job. It is very sincere and he has a ton of character. I would then assume your redition is far superior to the reference, because he is breathing. Any second you're going to see the mist from his breath from the intense cold. He looks like he's a bit hunched, in a manner of protecting himself from the cold.

In other words, you've done a great job telling a story thru a drawing. Maybe it's good you did'nt have a good reference. :cool:

Hi David,

This is such an intense and wonderfully drawn portrait. Your technique is beautiful and from what I've seen of your work, I think that you have a real "eye" for powerful images. This is a true gift. I also love the orange here. 'Spaceba' for posting this.

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.

Amazing! I tell all my students that they must travel abroad. Certainly has a way of opening up one's eyes (mind).

So I guess you're no longer a protected, naive kid.

I can still be pretty naive, but I sure don't feel protected.

You should always use protection.


...I'm thinking this thread has just about run it's course....whaddya think?