#80 Josh- One Hundred Alla Prima Portraits of American Teenagers

                                                                             Josh
(What do you think most teens are concerned about today)  "Getting into college and paying tuition."  (Advice for other teens)  "If you strive for your goals you can conquer them...The most difficult issue teens face is stereo-types because most people think all teens are the same." (My hope for the future is) "To be successful." 


I was really focusing on breaking down his head into planes and their relative values.  I am pretty happy with this painting given the amount of time I had. The theory goes, if you have the right color you will have the right value, and it you have the right value (and color) the form will turn, even if you don't soften the edges. Still,  I would have like to soften the edges between the planes on his face just a little bit to help the form turn.  Josh is also in the Street Leader program at Urban Promise in Camden, NJ (see earlier posts).

#79 Carlos- One Hundred Alla Prima Portraits of American Teenagers

                                                                           Carlos
(Advice for other teens)  "Stay in school because without an education life will be hard for you." (Most difficult issue teen are are faced with today) "The friends they are with because some friends want you to do drugs and thats why you have to be with friends that will keep you out of trouble."


Carlos is also in the Urban Promise Streetleader program in Camden.  He was very friendly and interested in our paintings, and likes to draw. I was really interested in doing a double portrait with him and the photo image of the young man on his hoodie, "Sweeney".  I was very saddened to find out that Sweeney, one of his best friends, had been shot and killed just a week earlier in a robbery at a store in Camden while picking up some things for his grandfather.  He had been helping his grandfather paint his house that weekend.  Sweeney was just 17 years old.

#78 Rosa- One Hundred Alla Prima Portraits of American Teenagers

                                                                              Rosa
(What are some of the things that are important to you?) "My character and spirituality are definitely important to me.  My family and the kids that I work with at Urban Promise."  (Advice for other teens) "I would say to worry more about what's important instead of stressing about the little things.  Love life and be brave."   (What do you think is the most difficult issue kids are faced with today?)  "What happens after high school, or what they have lived through during high school such as foster kids with no parents or kids with abusive parents."

Rosa is a "Street Leader" with Urban Promise in Camden, NJ. The StreetLeader Program offers employment to Camden-area teenagers to work as counselors, tutors, mentors, disciplinarians, and role models for children in the After School Programs and Summer Camps. Street Leaders are encouraged to stay in school, attain job skills, and avoid negative life choices such as early parenthood, drugs, and the penal system.

 I loved painting this portrait, I loved her glasses and painting the ipod headphone. I always agonize over technical things that I didn't do or get to; in this painting I think I need a soft transitional value along her jaw, and another "turning" value between the front plane and the side plane of her face in light.  But I caught her likeness and something about her, and I'm happy about that.

#76 Monique - One Hundred Alla Prima Portraits of American Teenagers.

                                                                             Monique
Monique also graduated from Urban Promise Academy in Camden, NJ last night. She is Dominique's twin sister (see earlier post). Best of luck to you next year in college, Monique!  Urban Promise Academy is a Christian school, and it was a very moving ceremony. Everybody's faith was very evident. These students are so fortunate to be graduating from such a wonderful school, surrounded by so many supportive, loving people! The paintings (except 2) of the graduates were on display in the back of the sanctuary during the graduation ceremony.  I was glad that the families and friends of the graduates could see them. Thank you, Mr. Marlow, the school principal, for inviting me. Its an honor to be part of your lives!  Thanks also to Karen Marshall for coming up with the inspiration to have "Portraits of Promise" painted to honor the graduating class. I am glad I could paint these wonderful young people as part of my larger portrait  project.

# 75 Brandan - One Hundred Alla Prima Portraits of American Teenagers

                                                                           Brandan

(Advice for other teens) "If you stick with God, life is a lot easier. 'Embrace your dream and whatever happens, always protect your honor' - Zac Fair."

Brandan was wearing the coolest Batman t-shirt, and I really wanted to paint the bat signal, but it just wouldn't fit!  Brandan is a musician, and was very friendly and great to work with. He is graduating from Urban Promise Academy HIgh School in Camden, NJ today.  Congratulations, Brandan!

# 74 Andre - One Hundred Alla Prima Portraits of American Teenagers

                                                                                Andre

(Advice for other teens)  "The people you hang out with now and the decisions you make will affect you for the rest of your life."  (My hope for the future is) "To get a degree in communications and be a sports broadcaster on ESPN."

I loved painting this portrait, Andre was a wonderful model.  Its amazing how well these kids can sit, its not easy, and he was like a rock. He is another student affiliated with Urban Promise.  It was nice to get to talk to him, he just graduated from high school and couldn't say enough good things about his school, Camden Catholic High School, in Pennsauken, NJ. Some kids just can't wait to get out of their school, but I can tell that he is going to miss his high school community when he is in college next year.  He said there was a large group of kids at his school from China, who went to school all day and then worked another 4 hours in the evenings. Wow. The future is coming.

# 73 Chris - ONe Hundred Alla Prima Portraits of American Teenagers

                                                                                 Chris
(Advice for other teens) "Relax and don't make such a big deal about things that aren't important.  Focus on things that matter." (My hope for the future is) "There will be a cure for all types of cancer and people learn to love one another instead of fighting and bullying." 


Chris, his brother Seth, and several friends have shaved their heads and grown mohawks in support of Chris and Seth's mom, Jane Bingham, who is fighting cancer. They have formed "Mohawks for Mom", and will be running tonight in a Relay-for-Life event to raise funds and awareness for cancer research. You can go to their Facebook page if you would like to support them by purchasing a T-shirt or you can make a donation.