Original artwork description:

As with nearly all my large paintings the image appears as I paint. There is no presketch or plan before brush hits the canvas. I gently paint a light coat until something appears. I explain my neurological condition that causes this.
Once I see a figure the story starts to unfold in my mind. “The Man Who Couldn’t Smile” came to my mind. Imagining someone who had never smiled with his two daughters giving him a birthday cake. He claps as if happy but his face can’t show this. This is slightly autobiographical in the notion that I find it hard to find interest in normal things. Which creates a lonely life for me even though I am surrounded by a loving partner and friends. I do smile though all the time. But that struggle to “fit in” is hard for me and the metaphor is the man who couldn’t smile. No matter how hard he try’s he cannot smile.

This painting comes as a rolled canvas with extra several inches around image for framer to stretch to frame or board.

Materials used:

Acrylic paint

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