Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Mug Shot




















8x10 oil on canvas




You know I've always had a fascination with faces. Perhaps because of all the composite work I did or all the mug shot line-ups I used to have to compile. I even had one mug shot line-up involved in a hit and run case go all the way to the Appellate Courts because the Defense Attorney claimed it was prejudiced against his client. The State prevailed because the courts deemed the line-up was not prejudicial because it was based on the appearance of the subjects and not the race.

I used to have access to huge file drawers of mug shots for line-ups. Now all that is automated and an officer can bring up a line-up of subjects using similar descriptors. The DMV data base then gives the officers several choices to use along with the suspect's image. I found a site of mug shots and was just perusing the faces when I came across this man arrested for Obstructing an Officer. I didn't include the bloody lip and made his gaze look up a little more. He doesn't look like a suspect just because of those little tweaks now does he?

18 comments:

Paintings by Irit Bourla said...

great portrait Sheila.
Perfect!
But I do not want him to be near my girls....

Charlene Brown said...

You're right -- those tweaks seemed to make a huge improvement in his atitude.

L.Holm said...

He looks more spiritual. Small changes did make a big difference! Nice work!

Manon said...

Great job Sheila! Actually, the tweaks make him look like he's looking up towards the heavens... he looks so much better!

Dean H. said...

I agree with everyone about the personality improvements you performed with a few strokes of a brush-much more spiritual!
Too bad actual rehab can't be accomplished in like and speedy manner!
Actually (come to think of it) this painting personifies Christ's gift to mankind-being made perfect through God's forgiveness.

Vern Schwarz said...

Way to clean him up Sheila. This is an interesting and well painted portrait. You've rehabilitated him.

The Bull said...

Very cool, nice job! Gives him a whole new persona!

Linda O'Neill said...

Nice job, Sheila. You found beauty in a tense face.

Kathleen Krucoff said...

I agree with L.Holm, he has a spiritual quality with your touch ups.

Edward Burton said...

He does look spiritual - great job, Sheila.

artbyakiko said...

Interesting! He now looks like a character from an old religious painting.

Stephen Gardner said...

Nice one Sheila, you made him look like a saint.

Unknown said...

Great work Sheila

Celeste Bergin said...

you chose a great face. Nice work ...making him look uplifted

Unknown said...

I have to agree with everyone, you saved his soul! lol I don't think he looks "bad" in the original photo and he has nice eyes but by raising them heavenwards you certainly gave him a saintly, spiritual air. Lovely!

Dean Grey said...

You're right, Sheila.

After those little tweaks your portrait no longer looks like a criminal.

I think the warm colors also had something to do with it.

Criminals just look more nasty in dingy tones!

I agree with L.Holm too. Your painted version looks almost spiritual, like he's looking to a higher power for an answer.

Unique!

-Dean

Mary Sheehan Winn said...

He does look Christ-like, but better than he looks in the photo.

Gwen Bell said...

Wonderful portrait, Shelia. He is a nice looking man, but I think your tweaks gave him a kind, almost Christ-like appearance. How ironic!