The Tourist

The Tourist, oil on gessobord, 6x6 inches

I remember the good ole days before pocket digital or cell phone cameras,  when people went to visit a new city or landmark, and they had their bulky 35mm cameras around their necks, with all their gear in a carry bag.

This painting is actually of my son Hugh looking like a tourist in the days of yore, at a local flea market, shopping for his favorite thing - old cameras!  He buys film 35mm models, polaroid varieties, lenses, expired film...you name it.  Its been really cool to watch him study a scene before using a one-take image like a polaroid, to make sure it will actually create a beautiful image.  This painting was a bit difficult because my subjects were back-lit, as you can see by the shadows, so I actually had to mentally adjust the image to bring the subjects to life through color. The magic of painting!

Just one more note about old cameras.. .my son visited the Charles and Ray Eames case study #8 House and Foundation a few days ago. The house was designed by the dynamic duo as part of a challenge to the design and architectural community and sponsored by Arts and Architecture Magazine in the 40s, to create works that would "express man’s life in the modern world" . It is in Pacific Palisades, CA overlooking the Pacific Ocean. My son was using his vintage Polaroid SX-70, a model for which Charles Eames had created a promotional film. A docent saw Hugh using his camera, asked if she could take his photo, and proceeded to show him Charles Eames' own model of the identical camera.  Needless to say Hugh was over the moon with happiness! Here are the photos the docent posted on their Facebook page: