Hello Alicia,
I did things 15 years ago which were more dynamic.
Influanced by Soutine.
I do not consider art as something which must please you or make you feel comfortable in your beliefs. The essence of my painting (which I try to say in my latest work:
www.fireface.com) is to reveal a feeling of mystery and religious revelation.
My portraits are technical exercises as concerning their essence. I do not really feel obliged to put any positive feelings or smiley ambiance.
I would say that a portrait for me must at the end give the same shock as the view of Mount Everest at sunset.
Regarding the portrait of a Legionary, in particular, I must add two things:
1. It was the first pastel portrait in my life.
2. It is the portrait of a completely amazing person, the portrait of a friend, of somebody whose life is a real novel... His expression is really like that.
I understand, though what you mean. I think soon I will try to do the portrait of my son and my wife and may be some other feelings will come through.
The point is not WHAT you represent but that what you represent fits exactly in what you WANTED to pass to your viewer as an emotion.
Here is the portrait of Sharon (which You discussed earlier). It is a detail... and represents my second pastel portrait I did after the military guy... As you see the technic of graduation of the tons are more subtile.