Saturday, January 10, 2009

Another Composite


Okay, one more composite story to get my mind off my struggle with the Jefferson Memorial on DSFDF.

There was a series of burglaries in the neighborhood where the suspect was taking the glass louvers off the mounts when residents left their window cranked open. One day an apartment resident saw a man walking down the hallway carrying a television set midday. Most people would not have given this a second thought but the witness was an ex-con himself and made mental notes of the guy.




Click to enlarge image if you'd like

Sure enough when the officers knocked on his door that night to see if he had seen anything out of the ordinary because his neighbor got burglarized he was able to say yes. So I'm talking to this guy and chit chatting about his "time in the pen" and I don't know how much credibility to give to the description he gave me.

Of course I was humbled when a Parole Officer looked at the crime bulletin and said he thought he recognized the suspect as his parolee. His fingerprints matched those left on the window and he was arrested. I always remind myself never to make assumptions about people based on their past or appearances.

17 comments:

Carrie said...

SHEILA!!!!
There you are! I so miss meeting with you over lunch. I'm your biggest fan--you are such a gifted artist. I know you'll make the jump to fine art.
Blessings,
Carrie Stuart Parks

Unknown said...

CARRIE!!! Hey Everyone !!! This is the best teacher of composite art. Meet Carrie Stuart Parks and her very talented husband at her website: http://stuartparks.com/ She is the author of several books which you must get if you want to really be proficient in drawing people.

Art By Erika said...

Wow you must have witnessed a lot of interesting incidents like this Sheila! How much art background does it take to have this job, you are an excellent skills! Goodness you could even have an exhibit with your sketches, they tell awesome stories!

artbyakiko said...

Amazing drawing!!! You are so good at this. I can't imagine drawing a face just from descriptions. It's way out of my skills.

Edward Burton said...

Wonderful story, Sheila - sounds like you led a very fasinating life as a forensic artist! Keep the stories coming! Also, thank you very much for adding my blog to list of blogs! I have added myself to your list of followers and I will add your blog to my list of artists on my blog.

Art with Liz said...

Oh so true Sheila. We are very judgmental about people and need to be reminded about it ever now and then. Can't wait to see the memorial. I have no connection with it, so will not be doing it. Maybe an African night scene would be more to my taste.

Maria Kovalenko Leysens said...

I am really enjoying the blogging and sharing of ideas and art. You never know what/where you will go and interestings things to read/see. And it is rewarding to see where people's art comes from and where it is going. thanks!

Amanda Lovett said...

Thanks for sharing this storey; it’s fascinating and so true!! I have really enjoyed your blog. It has been great finding new fellow artist to share our passions with through DSFDF.

John Andrews said...

hi sheila
thanks for your kind words on my blog... good luck with your DSFDF entry... don't stress out about it... enjoy the process! your portrait submission was fabulous!

Vern Schwarz said...

Pretty remarkable Sheila. I've often wondered how useful police sketches really are. You know, memories being what they are sometimes!!! But your skillfully drawn sketch does look very much like the person, and it's not hard to see the resemblance.

Tom Pohlman said...

That is soo cool! (and a great story). I'm glad karma works the way it should sometimes :>)

Carol Schiff Daily Painting said...

Hi Sheila, What an interesting life you have! All these cool stories are fun to read and the info you have given about your ex-job is fascinating. Cannot wait to read the next chapter.

Lew Clayton said...

Hi Sheila, Thanks for the nice comments on the portrait I did of my friend Kelley. It was a fun one to do and I usually don't work that large but I thought I would go for it. I was looking at your blog and you have some very nice stuff as well. I love the stories about your police job.
I want to do the project you just participated in where you draw someones portrait and they draw yours. I e-mailed the person in charge but haven't heard back. Well take care and hope to hear from you again. Lew

robin peterson said...

Hi Sheila,

Thanks for visiting the other day. It's so much fun to see what you do, amazing job, I'm impressed! Karin has really started something with her challenge blog. I'm enjoying meeting new artists and seeing so much fabulous work. Happy painting!

Dean H. said...

I tried to post yesterday, but it apparently failed to go through.
Great resemblance on this. Congratulations on the valuable service you performed!

Paula Villanova said...

This process is so fascinating, and your talent has helped to make our worlds a little safer by identifying these people...thanks!

r garriott said...

Great story. Thanks for including the photo of the guy it turned out to be.