Faces in a mirror

8" x 10" Acrylic on panel ~ 8/2008

I sat down and sketched this out using a soft lead pencil (B-6). Didn't erase anything, just started painting over the sketch. Didn't think about what I was painting at all. Just let it roll out.

The only thing I did think about was the colors. This is the palette I'm using in a few other projects. (red, orange, violet and raw "Buff" titanium)

All these faces. They all look "anguished" or at least, somewhat disturbed.

As I think about it, that makes perfect sense. They are disturbed because they are an extension of who I am, and I AM disturbed ... I am disturbed by what I am, and what I see around me.

When I look in a mirror ... It's a frightening thing!

I used to be young and handsome. I was vain. I would preen in the mirror, absolutely in love with myself.

When we are young, we wonder what we will become. When we are older, we wonder at what we HAVE become!

What I do know is that it doesn't get any better than this ...