This painting was done for an interdisciplinary art class back at Lahti Institute of Fine Arts during the second year of my studies.
The exercise was to pick a person on the street and sketch him. We would then based on our studies come up with a background story for him, trying to figure his likes and dislikes. And in the end make a painting that the person would like.
My study was an older man, he was wearing all gray, had a fur hat and a leather satchel. I imagined him as a teacher. He was from clerical family that was very disciplined. To escape the dullness of the country side he would sunk himself into history books. Later he move to the capital where he would study it in university. There he would meet his wife and they would have two children. Life is good for him. He is only slightly worried about that he may seem boring for his profession, though he is very enthusiastic in the way he teaches. To counter it He would enjoy jazz, playing squash and traveling.
I went with something drawing from cubist/futurist style mixed with the sort of national romantic idea of the Finnish horse.
This was a very fun challenge and recommend it. Let me know if you end up doing one, i'm curious to see what people would come up with.
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