I Stare At People

I never saw him again!

This fellow was sitting at the back room at Spider House on Fruth Street here in Austin. He was amused by something that he was reading on his laptop.  I decided to paint him with the dark background of the long-leaf pine walls.  The only lighting was from an antique wall sconce which cast an orange glow on his face.  The first attempt was terrible because I had preprimed the canvas with gray gesso.  I lost all illuminosity and transparency.  I started over on a blank canvas, hoping that he would stay put long enough for me to complete the second attempt.  I wasn’t sure what the tattoo shapes were, but I put down what I thought I saw.  Upon leaving, I walked closer to him and could make out penquins standing at attention.  I was pleasantly surprised that I had nailed the tattoo.  I thought that perhaps he would return, and I could do some more paintings of him.  I never saw him again!”