The Model's Perspective

I modeled for my friend and mentor, Aaron Shikler many times over the years. From this model's perspective, I studied how the light from the studio windows cast him in silhouette. I liked the illumination of his pipe smoke, the transparency of his ear, and the way the light played on his hand both in the silhouette and as reflected light from the painting he was working on provided a warm glow. This was the first portrait I painted of Aaron . There is a long story about his refusal to let me paint his portrait but the short version is that, after he saw this painting, he allowed me to paint him again - many times. The painting on his easel here was given to me as a gift and I keep it hanging alongside this portrait in my home.