Recently I was walking near Japan Town with my friend Push. We were on our way to eat when we stumbled across this shrouded figure just settling in for sleep. I immediately got an eerie feeling in my stomach. The way the person was sitting up in the intense lighting, it gave off a dark extraterrestrial/grim reaper-like vibe.
To my luck Push had his camera and I got excellent photographic reference for an oil painting.
I sometimes feel a little guilty taking photos of people who are down and out, but as they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I think that it’s the stories of our adaptation to circumstances that I find so fascinating and I want to highlight the beauty that I see within them.
Here the mysterious figure has his light provided by the infrastructure of the city, yet the soul and the physical body are left to fend for themselves, alone, collecting items to feel any small comfort. The hooded figure radiates suffering, yet through his shroud he glares directly into the viewer, imposing his darkness through guilt. “Last Stop”
cool painting I like it.
This is really a great painting. And I appreciate your sharing about the conflict about taking a photo in regards to this person’s circumstance.
I love to take photographs and have hesitated in taking a shot that highlights a distressing situation even though it may be incredibly compelling.
Looks great man, keep um coming.
S
WTF, I know that guy. We call him the Human-Burrito and he owes me five bucks. What bus stop is that?
i have to agree…it really looks eerie. really reminds me of one time my brother and i were driving down broadway late at night…and i look to my right and see a homeless person covered and sitting just like the one in your painting, and i saw the person shivering cuz of the cold. i saw a second person laying on the bench asleep as well.
i felt bad so i went to mcdonald’s that was near by and bought a couple burgers, then parked around the corner. got out of my car and i was no more than 5 feet away from behind the person…i just got the eeriest coldest feeling i’ve had in a long time. i start shivering.
i left the bag three feet to the right of the person, kind of where that white plastic bag is to the right of them in your painting. and then i walked back to my car. weird. your painting captures that feeling when i look at it.
if you actually read all of this, i appreciate it. just wanted to tell you how the painting spoke to me.
its so nice…..ur good in graffiti..and ur also good in “traditional painting”
One thing though - it ain’t all bad
I like the way the scribes look! Great work!
damn that is truly amazing, if this was available as a poster i would buy it in a hearbeat
maN..I READ UR BOOK ITS INCREDIBLE WAT A LIFE U HAV I LIKE UR ART..N GRAFFITI ITS AMAZING.I LIKE DIS PAINTIN I GOT IT AS A BAK GROUND FOR MY LAP TOP.I KANT BELIEVE U KNEW TIE FRM SAN FRANCISCO..HES DA KING OF SF STILL…NO ONE KAN HIT UP AS MUCH AS HE DID..YEA MAN IVE SEEN A LOT OF UR PIECES.I ALWAYS LOOOK AT DEM N IM LIKE MAN DAMN DIS GUY IS TALENTED N CREATIVE..I ALSO LIKE TO DRAW GRAFFITI IM THIRTTEEN BUT IM REALLY GUD FOR MY AGE…I ALWAYS WANTED TO MEET U TO GET MY BLAK BOOK SIGNED BY U OR REYES OR EVEN REVOK.I HOPE TO MEET U ONE DAY OR GO TO ONE OF UR GALLERIES IN S.F.MAN UR INCRDEBLE!!!!!!!!!!!