Artist Statement

St. Francis in Ecstasy (No. 2), 2004
oil and conté on canvas

Most of my paintings depict people in detached moments of silent thought.

Traditionally portraits were used to immortalize and glorify the famous and wealthy, to showcase icons and heroes, though that has become less and less the case. The fact that one has a portrait created of oneself suggests that he or she is a celebrity, or is important and has more power than the average person. My subjects are not famous and wealthy, but have been transformed into celebrities simply by having been painted.

My commissioned portraits are titled with the subject’s name. The titles of my other paintings play with the idea of a glorified subject and with the idea of why we immortalize people through portraiture. Although my paintings depict everyday people engaged in mundane activities, the titles are grandiose and extravagant, bringing a false magnitude to the subjects and their actions. That, however, does not mean that the people depicted are any less important. Casting my subjects as mythological and historical figures transforms them into icons.

Leaving the under-painting showing through allows the rough sketches used as guidelines for the paintings to remain visible. Showing every stage of the process enables the viewer to simultaneously experience the painting’s multiple levels.

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all images copyright 2002-2010, Jorin Bossen