Painting Conversations

Books build stories through conversations
because in the spoken word, the story unfolds,
linking lives through sentence fragments
body language, shows without telling, 
reactions and relationships. 

Painters have grabbed their brushes to explore
settings where conversations occur; in the mall,
at a sidewalk café, in a museum or local bar
all portrayed with subdued lighting,
clusters of people sharing 
their stories in a public setting. 

Faces seen from far away, composites created
using several pictures then deciding on a central focus
arranging everyone, choosing poses to fit the larger story

in the center of familiar clatter 
and other ambient sounds.