The Perpetual Passenger (by Profession)

Mark was my very first pick-up-in-a-bar addition to my FACE project and it was his dancing that drew my attention. He was among a group of 10 swing dancers lighting up the night at a local blues show. I almost didn’t go that night but I left with my face hurting from all the smiling and laughing. I hold his group responsible for this!

I credit Mark with giving me even more insight into my motivations for furthering my study of people.  After finishing his FACE another layer revealed itself. As humans we tend to compartmentalize strangers by assessing their physical appearance and making snap judgments on their character. Quite often nothing is a simple as it looks…the truth is far more complex!

At first glance most people would not guess that Mark is a recent college graduate that comes from a highly educated family with a father who is a university professor. His abundant dreads wrapped up in a bandana give him the aspect of a bohemian.  Stereotyping can be dangerous and it came to me that one of the things I can do with this project is to de-bunk stereotypes.

Mark also belongs to a close knit community of dancers and made a decision upon graduation not to immediately enter into the corporate rat race. Instead he is following his heart and traveling the country. Often it means following his dance muse and going where the dance community welcomes him.

When I choose someone to paint it is usually because I am interested in who they are as a person…they pique my curiosity and while I paint we chat and I get to know them. This enters into my painting and helps me interpret their character. One thing I noticed about Mark was his endearing sideways smirk and wanting to capture this expression I asked if he would hold that smile a few times during the session. He obliged and commented later that it was easy to smile like that…all he had to do was think of his girlfriend!

Mark was in town only for a small window of time and is on the road now. It brings a smile to my face to know he is out there on a grand adventure!