Portrait of Chris Borgen
Oil on Linen
The best of the best of anyone I’ll ever be privileged to know. Totally fantastic human being. Brave, tough, bright, savvy, charming. Top notch NYC reporter with more irons in the fire than seemed possible. Voice like liquid gold, words like Dickens and Shakespeare, damn he was good. Good at everything. Now THIS was someone who had a life. Chris Borgen was a friend, my teacher, my hero. The whole city loved him.
Greeting Cards and Matted Prints
whisperingruth
This man has such a beautiful face….........you have done him so proud Barbara….............
Barbara Sparhawk replied
He did, just a melt-your heart kind of look. But he was a tough guy, too, and I’d hate to have been an enemy. Thank you Ruth, for all you say when you look at my paintings. It encourages me, and warms me.
~ Ademac
Wonderful painting…..........love the textures and color, marvellous.
Barbara Sparhawk replied
Thanks, Barssel. It’s one of the first paintings I did when I finally unpacked enough to do it, and was standing still for a week.
Nikolay Semyonov
you painted with you heart, Barbara!
Barbara Sparhawk replied
Thanks for that, Nicolai. It means a lot to hear you say so, it’s what I try for.
rosepepper
the thick juicy paint is very seductive and the skin tone is superb. You have caught the crevices and lines and a forward movement beautifully and of course the full frontal confrontation with life with the the elongated format and eyeline. Beautifully balanced with the refined hand of a writer and the ruffle in the clothing. Just brilliant.
Barbara Sparhawk replied
Thank you so much for saying what you have, rosepepper. It’s really useful to get another eye on paintings, sometimes I just don’t know why I’ve done what. I wanted yes…the delicacy of the writer’s hand, and have always worried that it was small, and at the same time seemed right instead of wrong. You’ve explained it for me and I’m grateful. He had a very all-there presence, head first. I can’t tell you how pleased I am that you picked up on that, and it makes me feel so much better. The odd chance I knew what I was doing when I did it!
Denis Dalby
I feel like I should know this face, but I guess not. A very strong face indeed and a wonderful portrait.
Barbara Sparhawk replied
Such an interesting remark, Denis. He had exactly that effect on everyone, as if you’d run into an old friend for the first time. Thank you so much.