Back on track. I have discovered a nice bookstore in Connecticut Ave, Washington DC, Politics and Proze, which features book reading events every night, I called to inquire about tonight's event and I learned that it is a public event, first come first serve basis, caffee downstairs, and book signing by the author in the end. I look forward to attending the event tomorrow if not this evening, sounds promising and very Washington-esque. There are other events that I am eagerly anticipating. Visiting the National Portrait Gallery is a beginning, in fact I already voted for my favorite portrait online. It is a portrait of a homeless man, titled Portrait of George Guillaume, it touched me more than some other paintings which were technically perfect, but had little to say to me, for instance a portrait of the painter himself standing behind a glass door. Of course, painting so brutally realistically must require great skill, but I stil find it,eh, brutal and cold. I would prefer something that has some level of social warmth in it rather than cruel objectivity. There is so much pain and suffering and what not going on in the world. I guess I am not a great fan of art for the sake of art. I loved the Portrait of George Guillaume because that is the portrait of the man about whom I would love to write a book about one day - and somebody already told the whole story on a simple canvass. Here is what the artist, Kris Kuksi, said about why he painted George:


George Guillaume is a homeless man seen by many but known to few in our community. He has become a great subject for my work many times over. He possesses a distinctive and timeless look that inspires me to capture and celebrate in a great work of art. George is a humble man, always willing to help me in the studio. He has never accepted anything in return, though he is fond of chocolate chip cookies. He is a religious man, often reciting stories from the Bible and passing along words of wisdom as only he can. George truly feels God provides for him despite his woes and lack of personal possessions. I consider George a genuine individual with passion for life and compassion for those he encounters. To many, George may seem easily dispensible to society. I consider him a close friend. It has been a true pleasure making his acquaintance. My approach to this particular portrait was size. I rarely work in this small a format. However, I felt that this was critical in my portrait of George. I considered a realistic take on him in order to capture his weathered appearance. I wanted to accentuate his wrinkles and age as well as the wonderful textures within the beard. This piece, at a size of only 6 inches by 6 inches, lures the viewer into an intimate look at a man like George Guillaume, homeless and humble. The blue-gray negative areas around him suggest a cold world, and create a feeling of isolation. The garment which George wears creates senarios from hospital patient to perhaps a holy man. The lighting could be described as a single bare bulb just above, that further enhances feelings of solitude.