Southern California Art Galleries

Southern California Art Galleries
Portraiture
Open Art Calls Accepted Artists

Flagstaff, Arizona USA

The Commuter 7

Mixed Media

Artist Statement

The image is based on a self-portrait. I have always been interested in the motivations, behaviors, and rationalizations of individuals – private and public/political and personal. How and why we react to the way we do. What drives us. What I see as the current and evolving nature of people. What we notice and what we ignore and how we are compelled to create narratives. My current interest is in assumptions and how we arrive at them. My assumption is that the psyche can’t be fairly examined without considering the political context one may be caught up in and how it interfaces with emotional needs. But, of course, we don’t always deliberately calibrate that way – we often decipher. “The Commuter” triggers a reference point. It’s an example of the connection between public rituals and the need for us all to separate our individuality from everyone else’s while satisfying our own emotional/physical needs.

I imagine these men I have drawn to be standing in the rocking car of any NYC subway or waiting in a long line at a traffic light and “dealing”. This particular portrait expresses rage or indignation or mocking. Not just by the public situation he finds himself in, but also by the personal situation he finds himself in. This is not meant to be simply anger or spitefulness. Content, emotional or otherwise, is always open for debate. Images are always a trigger for multiple interpretations. For instance, this image may describe the ravages of seasickness; there are few clues to persuade the viewer otherwise. So without visual or verbal clues images are always open to interpretation. The only clue here is the title, but I wouldn’t want you to feel particularly comfortable with assumptions that are based on bias or convention. After all, I could be manipulating. After all, I am guessing just as you are.

This drawing is part of a series of 12 portraits, this pen & ink/pastel drawing is titled “The Commuter 7″, the number simply referring to it being the seventh in the series. All the pieces in the series are approximately 22″x30” on 100% rag illustration board.

The views expressed by our artists in their artist statements do not necessarily represent the views of our art galleries. Artists can be visually expressive but may verbally misrepresent their true intentions or ideas. Please note that we support expression, whether it is controversial or not, but our intention is never to offend.

If you are passionate about art collecting and would like to buy this beautiful artwork, give our Southern California art galleries a call. Our art gallery is a perfect place for art collectors.

Our owner and curator is Linnea Lenkus, who has two Los Angeles portrait studios and has a passion for high quality art. Her goal is to promote artists in her Southern California art galleries.