Acrylic on stretched canvas
3.5'x5.5' (Panel 1 of diptych)

I met the subject of this painting in NYC and after a brief discussion, obtained his cooperation to stand back against the marble wall for a photo.

As I took the shot, he quickly pulled the bottle out of a bag and flashed it for me. The girl was unaware any of this was going on and helped to make it a complete composition of ironic anomalies. My original shot had him from head to foot, including his plastic wrappings, and I am looking to add a second 3 1/2'x5 1/2' panel depicting that down the road.


Not yet varnished, which should bring out the darks much more vividly. This piece presented a number of disparate challenges to paint.

The lighting is from several sources, and the window reflections posed additional stumbling blocks to overcome. Aside from interior and exterior figures, it is perhaps the most complex piece I have done with various surface textures: newspapers, glass, chrome, plastics, marble, granite, cloth, stone, metals, etc. multiple perspectives, reflections, lighting sources, depths of field, all in one composition.

Interestingly, my son has seen this fellow near where he works in the city and my daughter had photographed him twelve years ago, vividly recalling his distinctive garb and dark makeup.

Another tribute to humanity for The Wall series, and perhaps a lighter side to it as well.

Chris Rywalt, NYC Art – Show Review and Interview

“Maybe we need people who can remind us what being human is all about, its best and its worst. Denis Peterson may not want to be one of those people. But then he may not have a choice."