The juxtaposition of the homeless man still bundled for winter, begging with a McDonald's cup in front of the expensive... Read More
The juxtaposition of the homeless man still bundled for winter, begging with a McDonald's cup in front of the expensive spring fashions showcased in the windows above him, said something to me about the state of the world. I call the painting Democritus, after the laughing philosopher, because he was so full of good cheer.
The cool colours of the foreground contrast with the saturated colours in the window behind him. I have used textures & frottage to mimic the different textures in the subject, granite, cotton cloth, flesh, etc. instead of painting them the way they are. It is something I learned from Rembrandt when I studied his work in depth for my doctoral dissertation, what one Rembrandt scholar referred to as: "The beholder's share." A way of involving the viewer in an interaction with the painting that is impossible with simple realism.