I began this fourth portrait of my brother Mike*, with frisket squiggles to sketch out an eye and lips. Jarring the paper side to side and up and down created traces, traces that have meaning. This is almost a double portrait. Possibly it is a portrait of the space between two people, the channel that exists, an impossible channel to cross.

Mike Portrait No. 4, June 2017
12″x9″ 140# Cold Pressed Watercolor Block

For those of you who are interested in other of my portrayals of my brother, I encourage you to see these posts: Young Mike Smiling, Mike Crying, Klee and Jawlensky-Influenced Portrait.

*   Mike is my older brother who is autistic, low functioning and has never spoken or communicated with me in any meaningful way.